Topic: Cinema,Types of Cinema and Impact of Cinema
Paper: 15
Paper Name: Mass Communication & Mass Studies
Name: Sagarkumar G. Ladhva
Roll No: 25
Class: MA-III
Semester: 3
Year: 2015-16
E.No:14101022
Submitted to:
Smt. S. B. Gardi M. K. Bhavnagar University,
Department of English.
cin·e·ma/sinəmə/
Noun:A movie
theater.
Cinema has several
meanings like a movie, filmmaking, etc. But many people refer it as a movie
theatre. There have been several definitions of cinema. There is one definition
of cinema that it happens to be the greatest medium of entertainment. There is
another definition of cinema that it is a medium that does reflect the true
mood of the society and that changing reality.
In accordance with
several experts, the Indian cinema does fit in the last definition and in the
best manner. Without a doubt Indian cinema has played a major role hitherto and
through decades it has also the most appreciated medium of entertainment.
INDIAN CINEMA has virtually become a parallel culture. Talk of India with a foreigner and debate virtually centers around Indian films
- Amitabh Bachhan
A
SHORT HISTORY OF INDIAN CINEMA
Following the screening of the lumiere moving pictures in
London (1895) cinema became a sensation
across Europe and by July 1896 the lumiere films had been in show in Bombay.
The full length motion picture in India was produced by Dadasaheb Phalke, a
scholar on india’s languages and culture, who brought together element form
Sanskrit epics to produce his Raja Harish Chandra (1913), a silent film in
Marathi. The female roles in the film were played by male actors. During the
early twentieth century cinema as a medium gained popularity across India’s
population and its much economic section. Tickets were made affordable to the
common man at a low price and for the financially capable additional comforts
meant additional admission ticket price. Audiences thronged to cinema halls as
this affordable medium of entertainment was available for as low as an Anna (4
paisa) in Bombay. The content of Indian commercial cinema was increasingly
tailored to appeal to these masses.
Young Indian producers began to incorporate elements of
India’s social life and culture in to cinema. Others brought with them ideas
from across the world. This was also the time when global audiences and markets
become aware of India’s film industry. As sound technology advanced the 1930
saw the rise of music in Indian cinema with musicals such as Indra sabha and
Devi Devyani marking the beginning of song and dance in India’s films. Studios
emerged across major cities such as Chennai. Kolkata, and Mumbai as film
making become an established craft by 1935, exemplified by the success of
Devdas, which had managed to enthrall audiences nationwide. The Indian Masala
film slang used for commercial film with songs, dance, romance etc. came up
following the Second World War.
The
partition of India following its independence divided the nation’s assets and a
number of studios went to the newly formed Pakistan. The strife of partition
would become an enduring subject for film making during the decades that
followed. After Indian independence the cinema of Indian was inquired by the
S.K.Patil commission. S.K.Patil, head of the commission, viewed cinema in India
as a ‘combination of art, industry’ and showmanship while noting its
commercial value. Patil further recommended setting up of a film Finance
Corporation under the Ministry of Finance. This advice was later taken up in
1960 and the institution came into being to provide financial support to
talented filmmakers throughout India.
The
Indian government has established a films Division by 1949 which eventually
become one of the largest documentary film producers in the world with an
annual production of over 200 short documentaries, each released in 18
languages with 9000 print for permanent film theaters across the country.
Commercial Hindi cinema further grew throughout the1980 and the 1990.
There have generally been six many
major influences that have shaped the conventions of Indian popular cinema.
Ø The
first influence was the ancient Indian epics of
Mahabharata and Ramayana which have exerted a profound influence on the thought
and imagination of Indian popular cinema, particularly in its narratives.
Ø The
second influence was the impact of ancient Sanskrit
drama, with its highly stylized nature and emphasis on spectacle, where music,
dance and gesture combined “to create a vibrant artistic unit with dance and
mime being central to the dramatic experience.
Ø The
third influence was the traditional folk theatre of
India, which became popular for around the 10th century with the decline of
Sanskrit theatre. These regional tradition include the yatra of Bengal, the
Ramila of Uttar Pradesh, and the Terukkuttu of Tamil Nadu.
Ø The
fourth influence was Parsi theatre, which “blended
realism and fantasy, music and dance, narrative and spectacle, earthy dialogue
and ingenuity of stage presentation, integrating them into dramatic discourse
of melodrama.
Ø The
fifth influence was Hollywood, where musicals were
popular form the 1920 to the 1950, Though Indian filmmakers departed from their
Hollywood counterparts in several ways.
Ø The
final (sixth) influence was
Western musical television, particularly MTV, which has had an increasing
influence since the 1990, as can be seen in the pace, camera angles, dance
sequences and music of recent Indian films. An early example of this approach
was in Mani Ratnam’s Bombay (1995)
v Types of Cinema:
§ Hindi
Cinema:
The
Hindi language film industry of Mumbai also known as Bollywood is the largest
and most popular branch of Indian cinema. Hindi cinema initially explored
issues of caste and culture in films such as Achhut Kanya (1936) and Sujata
(1959). International visibility came to the industry with Raj Kapoor’s Awara.
Hindi cinema grew during the 1990 with the release of as many as 215 films.
With Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Hindi cinema registered its commercial
presence in the Western world. In 1995 the Indian economy began showing
sustainable annual growth, and Hindi cinema, as a commercial enterprise. The
salary of lead stars increased greatly. Many actors signed contracts for
simultaneous work in 34 films. Institutions such as the industrial development
Bank of India also came forward to finance Hindi films. A number of magazines
such as Filmfare, Stardust, cineblits, etc..., became popular.
The
film industry of Gujarat started its journey in 1932. Since then Gujarati films
immensely contributed to Indian cinema. Gujarati cinema has gained popularity
among the regional film industry in India. Gujarati cinema is always based on
scripts from mythology to history and social to political. Since its origin
Gujarati cinema has experimented with stories and issues from the Indian
Society. The scripts and stories delt in the Gujarati films are intrinsically
humane. The include relationship and family oriented subjects with human
aspirations and deal with Indian family culture. Thus, there can be no turning
away from the essential humanity of these Gujarati cinema. The first Gujarati
movie, Narasinh Mehta, was released in the year 1932 and was directed by
Nanubhai Vakil.
- Bhojpuri Cinema:
- Bengali Cinema:
The Bengali language cinematic tradition h as had reputable filmmakers such as Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen among its most acclaimed. Recent Bengali films that have captured national attention include Rituparno Ghosh's Choker Bali, starring Aishwarya Rai. Bengali filmmaking also includes Bengal science fiction films and films that focus on social issues. In 1993, the Bengali industry’s net output was 57 films. The history of cinema in Bengal dates back to the 1890, when the first “bioscopes” were shown in theatres in Kolkata. The ‘parallel cinema movement began in the Bengali film industry in the 1950. A long history has been traversed since then, with stalwarts such as Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak and others having earned intern national acclaim and securing their place in the history of film.
Marathi Cinema :
Marathi theatre is theatre in Marathi-language, mostly originating or based in the state Maharashtra in India, and elsewhere with Marathi Diaspora. Starting in the middle of the 19th century, it flourished in the 1950s and 60s, and
includes forms like Sangeet Natak (Musical drama) and Tamasha (folk dance). Today, it continues to have a marked presence in the State of Maharashtra with a loyal audience base, when most theatre in other parts of India have had tough time facing the onslaught of cinema and television. Its repertoire ranges from humorous social plays, farces, historical plays, musical, to experimental plays and serious drama of the 1970s onwards, by Vijay Tendulkar, P. L. Deshpande, Mahesh Elkunchwar and Satish Alekar, which have influenced theatre throughout India In fact in the post-independence era, besides Bengali theatre, Marathi theatre has been a singular driving force behind innovations and significant dramaturgy in Indian theatre.
Marathi theatre is theatre in Marathi-language, mostly originating or based in the state Maharashtra in India, and elsewhere with Marathi Diaspora. Starting in the middle of the 19th century, it flourished in the 1950s and 60s, and
includes forms like Sangeet Natak (Musical drama) and Tamasha (folk dance). Today, it continues to have a marked presence in the State of Maharashtra with a loyal audience base, when most theatre in other parts of India have had tough time facing the onslaught of cinema and television. Its repertoire ranges from humorous social plays, farces, historical plays, musical, to experimental plays and serious drama of the 1970s onwards, by Vijay Tendulkar, P. L. Deshpande, Mahesh Elkunchwar and Satish Alekar, which have influenced theatre throughout India In fact in the post-independence era, besides Bengali theatre, Marathi theatre has been a singular driving force behind innovations and significant dramaturgy in Indian theatre.
Ø Types of Films
v Commercial
Cinema:
It primarily aims at providing
entertainment to the people.it includes the ingredients of popular cinemastar
high budget, abundance of music, song and dance. It mostly resorts to phantasy
to provide entertainment to people. For example, films like Vaqt, Sholay,
Muqhddar Ka Sikandar are few example of such films.
v Art
Cinema:
It is more realistic and relevant in
the needs of people and society. This form is not very popular. It is also
called ‘parallel cinema’ ‘alternative cinema’ or ‘New main stream of commercial
cinema’. Their dominant characteristic were their social concern,
purposefulness, realism, narrative style, exclusion of unrelated songs, dances
and fights and other familiar devices of commercial package. Their acceptance
by the intelligent and cultivated audience in the country and the high praise
which some of the really good new trend films won abroad brought a much needed
selfconfidence to adventurous or innovative film makers. National
corporation provides institutional aid for the production of these films.
Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, Mrinal Sen, are some of the known
art cinema proponents. However, or distributer. Many of them remain at award winning
level only and reach the masses due to these difficulties. With the popularity
of television, some of such films are telecast on television. Chakra, Ankur,
Nishant, Ardha, Satya, Damul some of the example of art cinema.
v Feature
Films:
Feature film means fictionalised
film exceeding, 200 metres in length in 36mn or corresponding length in other
gauge or on video. Feature film means full length cinematography film produced
wholly or partly in India with a format and a story woven around a number of
characters where the plot is animation or cartoon depiction and does not
include an advertisement film. Feature films are about a story enacted by a
people cast and to convey a moral but firstly to entertain to audience. They
continue to be most popular form of entertainment. Feature films could be
commercial or art films. These are produced for mass information and
entertainment. These films create cultural waves and to certain modify
behavior. These films have the elements like comedy, drama, suspense, science,
fiction, detective or horror.
v Documentary
Films:
Documentary dramatizes an idea or
theme uses the factual material in order to dramatize its idea, it tells its
simple story in terms of beings and human interests. Sometimes can be exhibited
in school, village and labour areas through mobile vans so that a number of
children can take advantages of these this film. As expressed by Goswami
“Making film for children is a hard task than making films for adults. The
producer has to take great care at every step. Only the best should be shown to
children. Their whole can be adversely affected if they see the wrong films in
the formative state of their mental development.”
***
Impact of cinema:
Now
a day movies have a great impact on not only youth but also on children. Impact
mainly depends on us, any movie will have bad and good and it is ourselves
should able to distinguish between them. People watching too much of movies
.People get very much attracted to the roles that involve interesting
characters. They try to imitate such roles.
Cinema
has become the most influential art form of 20th century from its marginal
beginnings. India holds eminent position in film making in the world. It
produces highest number of films every year. Whatever may be the quality of the
film, they continue to be the popular mass media. Earlier, cinema was a simple
means of mechanical recording, preserving and reproducing moving visual images.
With the development of film technology, the art of cinema developed a language
of its own. Kumar says, that cinema is called “the seventh art”, and its
language has developed over the past 7080 years to a specialized and
sophisticated level, opinion differ, however on whether cinema is a ‘pure’ art
form or a ‘bastard’ art.
· Positive
Impact:
The
positive impact is any kind of good behavior of a character can affect the mind
of a person and he/she can try to inculcate it in his/her life. Sometimes even
sad movies help us to be thankful for what we have. It might make us feel lucky
and leave a positive impression on our lives. If there is any kind of
educational value or a great person’s life in the movie, people might try to do
the same for a happy ending in their lives just like the movie.
Negative
Impact
The
negative impact is People try to copy stunts which the heroes of the movies do;
Thinking that they are brave which lead s them to injure themselves. It can
range from a minor bruise to a major fracture. Movies play an essential role in
teaching a person; Especially a child to accept ideas like a criminal attempted
to murder, a victim attempted suicide, to hit a person in a cruel way or to do
things using violent ways.
Some
children are fascinated by fiction movies which can affect their mind and they
are not able to differentiate between real life and fiction life. Some
horror movies can fear people and children a lot that they get scared of
everything and never try to face it. Cinema effects health. Long movies can
affect a person’s eyes. Watching a movie can make him very restless.
THE CINEMA AND its IMPACT:
In
our society there are many practices and traditions which are based on
ignorance and which have withheld the progress of our society. Rigidity of caste
system, untouchability, dowry system and purdah system has done enormous harm
to our society. Cinema films can do a lot to eradicate these evils. They can be
used for promoting national integration, Prohibition, inter caste
marriages, family planning,
eradication of illiteracy, etc; Such themes can help the transformation of our
society. The cinema can be used as an instrument to help people get rid of
obscurantism and also to guide them along the right path it can help in
removing ignorance from our society. Not only this, several much needed social
reforms can be introduced and brought about with the help of the cinema. The
cinema exercises a great influence on the mind of the people. It can achieve
splendid results in the field of expansion of education. There are certain
subjects, such as science and geography, which can be more effectively taught
with the help of talkies.
Cinema
films have the power to influence the thinking of the people. They have changed
the society and social trends. They have introduced new fashions in society.
They may be described as pacesetters. They can create a direct impact on our
social life. Films can go a long way towards arousing national consciousness
and also in utilizing the energies of the youth in social reconstruction and
nation building by a skilful adaption of good moral, social and education
themes, and by introduction of popular sentiments, films can, to a great
extent, formulate and guide public opinion.
‘Cinema’ and ‘films’ are used interchangeably
but there is a difference between these two terms. Cinema has specific means to
create imaginary time and space, and utilization of these means defines how
cinematic a film is. Imaginary time can be created through movement by means of
montage, camera movements and movement within the frame and through sound of
human voice, music and noise. Space can be created through image with the help
of size of shoots, camera angle, deapth of field, montage and through sound
‘off screene’. Films are made of stories dance, music, drama, photo graphy,
painting, architecture and many other things that we call cinema. Filems mean
the particular movies that we see with all the elements they contain and cinema
means the sum of the means made possible only by film technology which
distinguish cinema.
THE
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE CINEMA:
1. Recreation is an essential part of life.
2. Cinema of recent birth but has attained phenomenal popularity.
3. Heaters to the peopl
4. Its value in cultural and educational spheres.
5. Social and political importance of Cinema
6. It has led to the development of cosmopolitan outlook and can be used for the growth of international understanding.
7. Commercial importance.
8. Its evil effects.
9. Far reaching effects upon the youth of the country.
2. Cinema of recent birth but has attained phenomenal popularity.
3. Heaters to the peopl
4. Its value in cultural and educational spheres.
5. Social and political importance of Cinema
6. It has led to the development of cosmopolitan outlook and can be used for the growth of international understanding.
7. Commercial importance.
8. Its evil effects.
9. Far reaching effects upon the youth of the country.
Cinema has also thrown down the barriers of time
and space. It has made man truly cosmopolitan in outlook. A grand sight in cold
Norway is reproduced vividly to people in hot Africa. A political or social
revolution in one part of the country is shown the world over. Moreover, it can
be used as medium for the enlightenment of other nations about our own culture,
customs, manners and policies. It has often been said that one of the potent
causes of international misunderstanding, hot and cold wars, is that people of
different country do not have the means to understand and appreciate each other
adequately. In this respect cinema can serve the goodwill mission of presenting
the correct image of the country and the people abroad. Thus, Cinema can be
used for establishing mutual international understanding and paving the way for
permanent world peace. However, it cannot be neglected that they are the major
single factor which earn substantial and much needed foreign exchange.
The
Cinema has far reaching effect upon the youth of the country. The films make
them prematurely sex conscious and they start reaching the sense of romantic
pictures in their regular life. A sense of dissatisfaction with life is
engendered among them. Vandalism and increasing acts of rowdyism in the student
community are attributed to their indiscriminately frequenting the Cinema
halls. Again the youth imitating all sorts of fashions from the films lead to
the development of expansive tastes and manners. They grow divorced from grim
and dismal realities of life and start living in the fairyland pictures on the
screen. In this respect the role of government is significantly felt.
***
In the last fifty years cinema has
become not only a serious art form a field of study by itself. Continuous
advancement in film technology and high level of conceptualization of the film
take viewer to the world outside his day-to-day world providing entertainment.
This has made cinema a popular medium of masses. Indian educations and
sociologist have shown a surprising lack of interest in the film as an
education force and social challenge. Hardly an academic. Systematic scientific
studies have been undertaken on the social and psychological impact of the
films in India. There is no data available on the systematic use of the
documentary and the feature film in social education programs in India.
However, experience in Canada, USA, and USSR indicate the documentary and film
have contributed to bringing about a better social order and in building up a
national community having common thing about nation. Many social scientists
have shared their informal experiences and observation regarding the impact
that films have created.
The main limitation of films is its
fixed space. The move as a fixed space, some viewers are likely to fall behind.
If they are the unable to keep pace with the pace of the film. Since films are
mostly the dramatized presentation. There the chances of sophisticated
treatment or exaggerated version of a situation or issue. For example if ad
adolescent has seen a film with generation gap.Theme. It is likely that he will
take this melodrama in literary sense and feel that he also has to face to face
many problems due to generation gap in his relationship with his parents and
teacher. It is very difficult to define the limits of what is ‘controversy’ in
films. For, example the film ‘Andhi’ was banned during the emergency period in
India. It was labelled as controversial film. When released people did not find
anything controversial on objectionable in the film. The commercial films are
made with the audience’s preference in mind but there is hardly any feedback
mechanism. The production of film or a replication of a film are costly and
require huge amount of finances highly sophisticated equipment for production
as well as projection. Film production also requires trained personnel such as
Director, Photographer, Sound effects, Musician editor etc. once the film production
is complete; it is very expensive to make any changes in the film. Each film
require individual distribution network which requires investment of large
amount of money and time.
Source: