Mumbai: Where Bollywood Lives
Excessive sets, cloying love, musical numbers... on paper, typically Bollywood cinema makes your hair stand on end, but see one of these films in one of the cinemas in the Colaba area of Mumbai It is a truly unique experience. People cry, laugh, hum the songs and most importantly, dream. This is for many the secret of the booming Indian film industry, to make people forget their routine and miseries. Of course the formula works: in 2012 the record production figure was reached, more than 1,500 films shot and 3.3 billion tickets sold . Furthermore, Bollywood cinema is becoming more and more popular in Asia, Africa and North America. The icing on the cake of this centenary has been, without a doubt, his special invitation to the Cannes Film Festival, which takes place these days: the appearance of the Indian actor ** Amitabh Bachchan together with DiCaprio himself at the opening session says it all. Bollywood on the same level as Hollywood.**
But let's leave Old Europe and go to where this effervescent and sparkling cinema was born, Bombay, where on May 3, 1913 the first Indian film in history was presented at the Coronation Cinema Hall: _Raja Harishchandr_a. To discover the entire Bollywood “shed”, be sure to follow these instructions:
1) Attend a movie session in one of the legendary cinemas in Mumbai
Get ready to spend up to three hours in the cinema but we assure you: you will not regret it. Going to the cinema in Mumbai is quite an event, people bring food, sing and if you hurry, even dance. Only one small inconvenience, the films are in Hindi without subtitles but given the obviousness of the situations it will not be difficult for you to follow the plot. The Regal or the Eros, both located in fantastic 1930s buildings, are the best options.
Gift. Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Apollo Bunder. Colaba. Telephone: +91 (0) 22 22021017.
Eros. 42 Maharshi Karve Road, Churchgate. Telephone: +91 (0) 22 82 2335.
2) Become a Bollywood star
Well, not exactly. In reality, your job will consist of appearing in some of the latest productions and dance a bit in the background dressed in a low-cut evening dress (only if you are a girl because if you are a boy you dance with what you are wearing) . But what does it matter when you experience a shooting session first-hand in one of the Mumbai studios and share the day with a bunch of the most curious and outdated professional extras.
Warning: this is an experience reserved only for the most intrepid. Zero glamor (although it may seem the opposite to you) and long hours of waiting in the studio (actually a cement warehouse come to the fore) while you wait for your particular moment of glory. Of course, fun 100% guaranteed.
How to do it? Multiple booking agencies operate in the Colaba neighborhood on the hunt for Western tourists . The more blond and foreign-looking you are, the better to be "discovered" by one of these "headhunters". In any case, ask at some of the hotels in the area and they will put you in contact with the right person. The work is paid symbolically with 500 rupees (around 10 euros), transportation and food included.
3) Take a tour of the studios
If the sacrificed life of an extra is not your thing, a much better option is to visit the studios with a professional who will tell you all the secrets as well as being able to attend a live shoot (comfortably sitting down). Tours from 3,250 rupees (about 65 euros) per person at Bollywood Tourism.
A woman walks in front of a movie poster
**4) Buy a movie (or a few) **
Not to be missed Rhythm House , a store where you can find everything from the great classics in black and white to blockbusters like Slumdog Millionaire. My favorite is Om Shanti Om, starring the charismatic Shahrukh Khan, a humorous tribute to Indian cinema. Along the Colaba Causeway you will find many shops and street stalls where you can also buy DVDs and posters of Indian movies.
And of course after the cinema do not forget to walk through this wonderful city. This is our star tour:
Start in Colaba admiring the mythical India Gate (built in 1911 on the occasion of the visit of King George II). Indulge in its view from the **sealounge of the no less mythical Taj Mahal Hotel**, and with a masala tea in front of you, begin to set your mood. Walk through the streets dotted with colonial buildings to the Fort area where you can admire several of the landmarks of English architecture such as the Victoria Terminus Station and the University of Bombay. The colorful crawford market (north of Fort) is also worth a raid. And at sunset go by rickshaw to Chowpatty's beach , a meeting place for locals and watch the sun go down while savoring a bhelpuri (typical snack) .
The sealounge of the no less mythical Taj Mahal Hotel