World Bollywood Day marks journey from silent films to OTT

Mumbai's Hindi film industry, known the world over as Bollywood, is the largest entertainment industry that has raised India's name on the global stage. World Bollywood Day is celebrated with enthusiasm every year on September 24 to honour the cultural imprint this industry has made in cinema at a global level.

Bollywood is not just a film-making machine but a living document of the emotions, dreams and culture of crores of viewers, is the point underlined on this occasion. The journey that began in the era of silent films has today reached cutting-edge digital and VFX technology. Along the way, Bollywood has won over not just Indian audiences but audiences abroad as well. Meaningful songs, thrilling dance sequences, stories that touch the human heart, and colourful presentation in Hindi cinema draw viewers from every corner of the world.

Bollywood has played a major role in preserving unity in a country as vastly diverse as India. From north India to south India, and from villages to big cities, Bollywood has brought different languages and cultures onto one platform through cinema. Traditions, family values, festivals, and at the same time changing modern thinking are reflected on the Hindi screen. When the day is celebrated worldwide on September 23 and 24, this cultural legacy of India is discussed across the world.

The main feature of the day is that film lovers around the world recall Bollywood's rich history. The film industry that began with Dadasaheb Phalke flourished through the work of artistes such as Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. Not just actors, but directors, music composers, lyricists and thousands of technicians working behind the scenes are also saluted on this day. Films such as Sholay, Mother India, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Lagaan created a distinct and strong identity for Indian cinema in the world.

In today's times, Bollywood's reach is growing faster because of OTT platforms and digital media. The purpose behind celebrating World Bollywood Day is to sustain and further increase this global popularity of Indian cinema. Another purpose is to connect the new digital generation with this rich artistic and cultural heritage. Special screenings of Indian films are organised from Hollywood to countries in Europe and Asia, which shows just how large Bollywood's global influence is.

In short, September 24 is a day of pride for every film lover and every Indian. Bollywood has taught us to laugh, cry and dream, and has shown the world India's rich culture. World Bollywood Day is therefore not just the celebration of one industry, but a festival of the remarkable coming together of human emotion, music and art.