The History of Bollywood (Radio Edit)

You're Dead to Me

BBC

Comedy, History

4.7 • 10.9K Ratings

🗓️ 31 May 2024

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Sunny Singh and broadcaster Poppy Jay to learn all about the history of Indian cinema, colloquially known as Bollywood. Filmmaking technology arrived in India in 1896, only six months after the Lumiere brothers debuted their invention in Paris. Nowadays, over 700 films are released in India every year, and it is the most popular cinema in the world, reaching over a billion more viewers a year than Hollywood. From the first Indian film in 1913, through the arrival of 'talkies' and colour in the 1930s, to its incredible success today, this episode explores the vibrant history of Bollywood, and the way it has reflected and shaped modern Indian society and politics.

This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed.

Research by: Madeleine Bracey Written by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Caitlin Hobbs Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse

Transcript

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0:00.0	Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of
0:07.0	Happiness Podcast.
0:08.0	For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want
0:14.4	to share that science with you.
0:16.1	And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.
0:19.4	I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that
0:25.4	calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:30.3	BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts.
0:35.0	Hello and welcome to You're Dead to Me, the Radio 4 comedy
0:41.0	podcast that takes history seriously.
0:43.0	My name's Greg Jenner, I'm a public historian author and broadcaster,
0:46.0	and today we are buying our tickets, popping our popcorn and settling into our cinema seats
0:50.0	to learn all about the history of Bollywood, and to help us we have two very special
0:54.6	guest stars in History Corner. She's an academic and the author of both non-fiction
0:59.0	and fiction books including the novel Hotel Arcadia. She's professor of creative writing and inclusion in the arts
1:05.0	at London Metropolitan University in London.
1:08.0	And luckily for us, she's also got a fantastic new book out
1:10.0	all about Indian cinema.
1:12.0	It's called a Bollywood state of mind and our guest is
1:14.1	Professor Sunny Singh. Welcome sunny. Hello good to be here and thank you for having
1:19.1	me. A pleasure. And in Comedy Corner she's a broadcaster, Baff the nominated documentary director and award-winning
1:24.8	podcaster. You might have seen one of her TV documentaries, including rescuing ex-Muslims and
	...

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