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History and Cultures of South Asia

DiHerentiated Instruction

Hooray for Where are most of the world's movies made? If you answered , , guess again. turns out more motion pictures each year than any other country in the world. Bollywood is the name given to the center of the industry in (formerly Bombay), India. Up to 1,000 per year are filmed in India-more than twice the number produced in the ­ and more than 100 of these come from the film factories of Mumbai. Each Bollywood film often lasts more than three hours. The films are lengthy to provide poor Indians with the greatest value for their rupee. On a typical day, 14 million Indians pack theaters to watch the sprawling films, which are known for their extravagant visuals and wild plotlines. Bollywood productions are sometimes called masala films. Garam masala is a mixture of strong spices common in Indian foods. As the name suggests, masala films have "spicy" elements such as romantic or melodramatic plots, plenty of , many villains, lavish costumes, and several catchy song-and- numbers. "In Hollywood they call these films musicals," explains Bollywood director . "Here, every film is a musical." In fact, music is probably the most important element of a typical Bollywood production. Whether the movie is an , a horror or suspense flick, a , or a romance, Bollywood actors eventually break into song-often in beautiful, exotic locations. A typical Bollywood production will also feature a love story. Not all Indian films can be classified as "Bollywood" spectacles. Indian filmmakers have made many serious, respected movies. These include director 's 1955 classic Pather Panchali, or 's 1988 Oscar-nominated Salaam Bombay! Educated Indians often criticize Bollywood's "masala mix" productions as nothing more than mindless escapism.

Directions: On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions. 1. Describing Based on the description of Bollywood movies in the article, choose three words that you think best characterize their style. 2. Drawing Conclusions Why do you think long, romantic movies with much color and pageantry might be especially attractive to poor Indians?

65 , Teaching Strategies for Different Learning Styles

The following activities are ways the basic lesson can be modified to accommodate students' different learning styles.

and siblings separated by fate, dramatic rever­ English Learners (EL) sals of fortune, and convenient coincidences. Invite students to tell about films in their Adventurous students might include a song­ native country. Also have students answer and-dance number in their performance. the following questions about the passage: (1) How many films are produced in India Visual/Spatial annually? [more than 1,000] (2) What is the Ask students to sketch a storyboard for a most distinctive element of a Bollywood film? Bollywood film. Their sketches should include [the music] (3) Bollywood is named after which some costume designs as well. Indian city? [Mumbai/Bombay]. Verbal/Linguistic; Intra personal Verbal/Linguistic; Interpersonal Ask students to use library or Internet resources to research some of the most popular Since 1953, the Awards have Bollywood actors. Each student should choose honored Bollywood's best motion pictures and two current actors or actresses, write a brief actors. Assign groups of students four or five biography of each (including the movies he or specific years, and have them perform library she has starred in), and explain why the actors or Internet research to find the Filmfare Best or actresses are so popular. Movie Award winners for their years. Students also should summarize the plot of each movie. Advanced Learners After students have completed their research, Ask students to write a three-page report have them read their summaries to the class. comparing or contrasting serious Indian Ask if students can think of any similar Holly­ films with typical Bollywood productions. wood movies (e.g., the plot of 2003's winner Students also should tell whether they agree Koi . .. Mil Gaya is similar to Hollywood's E.T. with Indian intellectuals who condemn Bolly­ the Extra-Terrestrial). wood films as "mindless escapism," or if they Logical/Mathematical believe Bollywood should be respected as an important part of Indian popular culture. Show students several clips from a typical Bollywood production (these are easily avail­ Auditory/Musical able online). Then ask students to draw a Venn Obtain examples of Indian film music diagram, with one circle titled "Bollywood" (online or on CD), and play them in class for and the other "Hollywood." Students should students. If possible, provide students with write characteristics of the Bollywood clips translations of the songs. Then ask students to and of their favorite Hollywood film in compose a song in the Bollywood style. Allow the respective circles. Characteristics shared by the best to be performed in class. both film styles go into the overlapping area. Below Grade Level Kinesthetic; Interpersonal Ask students to write in their journals Assign groups of students to write and per­ whether they think they would enjoy form a "Bollywood-style" movie scene. Typi­ Bollywood movies, based on the description cal formulaic ingredients of a Bollywood film in the article. They should give reasons for often involve star-crossed lovers and angry their views. parents, love triangles, conniving villains, kidnappers, corrupt politicians, /bad girls with hearts of gold, long-lost relatives bb