1960's and 1970's: The Growing Phenomenon of 'Masala Films' and 'Superstars' in Bollywood

source:bollywood mojo

The 1970s had  completely changed the way films were made, especially in Hindi film industry. The seventies began with Bobby(1973) proving how big the potrayal of young love on the Indian Screen could be. But perhaps the greatest film post independence has been Sholay(1975) a 'curry western'. For the next decade or so excessive violence became the norm of the mainstream Hindi Cinema and Amitabh Bachchan became the 'angry young man'. In film after film: Zanjeer, Deewar, Amar Akbar Anthony, Muqaddar ka Sikander, Shaan, the actor represented the common man at the 'mercy, of the system but willing to stand up and fight back. Rajesh Khanna was tagged as the First ever 'Superstar' of Bollywood for his super hit movies like Anand, Amar Prem, etc.  Masala films were the demand of the time. The genre promised instant attraction and had great entertainment value. Other major actors of this period were Shashi Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty, while actresses included Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri and Rekha. 

A number of Hindi movie directors like Shyam Benegal kept on making practical parallel films during the 1970s. Other prominent directors of this era are Kumar Shahani, Mani Kaul, Govind Nihalani, Ketan Mehta, and Vijaya Mehta. A new concept of Hindi film named as the ‘art film’ was introduced. It faced disapproval and censure of the Film Finance Corporation at the time of a Committee on Public Undertakings probe which took place in 1976. The commission made allegations that the Film Finance Corporation was not taking sufficient measures to promote commercial films. - See more at: http://blog.mapsofindia.com/bollywood/bollywood-the-past-present-and-future-part-ii/#sthash.ZZeyjYCY.dpuf

A number of Hindi movie directors like Shyam Benegal kept on making practical parallel films during the 1970s. Other prominent directors of this era are Kumar Shahani, Mani Kaul, Govind Nihalani, Ketan Mehta, and Vijaya Mehta. A new concept of Hindi film named as the ‘art film’ was introduced. It faced disapproval and censure of the Film Finance Corporation at the time of a Committee on Public Undertakings probe which took place in 1976. The commission made allegations that the Film Finance Corporation was not taking sufficient measures to promote commercial films. - See more at: http://blog.mapsofindia.com/bollywood/bollywood-the-past-present-and-future-part-ii/#sthash.ZZeyjYCY.dpuf