Bollywood and Cliches

In the past few years, Bollywood has begun to generate a really diverse amount of good scripts - be it historical blockbusters like Bajirao Mastani and Padmavat or biopics like Mary Kom and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag or films revolving on societal problems like Toilet- Ek Prem Katha and Padman - Bollywood is accepting a massively changing culture. With innovative story lines and promising faces dominating the industry, the sky seems to be the limit.

Despite the changing face of Bollywood, there are some aspects that are innate to this industry and we can never enjoy a true Bollywood film without these elements. Be it the songs or the dialoguebaazi - Bollywood movies would be incomplete without these cliches!

Here are 5 popular cliches that you will find in almost every Bollywood movie.

1. Dancing on the Streets when you are in Love
Absolutely every Tom, Dick and Harry on those London or New York streets knows the steps to the hero's dance and no policeman ever comes to stop them from creating a public display. There is no shame in dancing on the roads and jumping of light poles 

2. Nature loves Romance
The wind, the rain, the sun - everything is perfectly oriented when two people are in love. The wind will make your hair flow romantically and not turn it into a pigeon's nest, the sun will kiss you lightly and not end up leaving you tanned for the rest of the month, and the rain - this is the best part - it will never be muddy and mucky and your outfit will never get ruined. In fact, even the weather will support you when you are in love. Wearing a knee length dress on the top of a mountain is the most comfortable piece of clothing possible!

3. Item Songs

I don't know whether to blame directors for adding these elements or the public for appreciating it! But nevertheless, this is another popular cliche in almost every film ever. If the movie lacks spark, an item song will do the trick? Maybe, maybe not. But check out this meme below, I found it online and I thought it was the perfect description for the role of an item song in a movie. 

4. Locations

Bollywood has been getting extensively generous in shooting locations around the world. Some of the movies are just your cheap ticket to view the most exotic places on the planet - some of which your tourist guide might have missed! 😝 But I think this is my favorite cliche! I mean, who wouldn't want a trip across the globe? 

5. Ladka aur Ladki kabhi dost nahi ban sakte

(A Boy and A Girl can never be Just Friends)

The universal truth that Bollywood never ceases to prove right. This is always at the essence of a romantic love story - the fact that a boy and girl hate each other, then become friends, and end up in love. And all of this ends with marriage. They say a love story can have just two endings - dead or wed - and Bollywood seems to prefer the wed scene a lot more!

BONUS: The iconic Karva Chaut Scene

Granted that this trend has definitely disappeared in the movies, but it was certainly noticeable in the movies from 90s and early 2000s. Be it Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge or Baghban or  Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham or Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, for that idyllic Karva Chaut ceremony, the family will always be Punjabi. Not that I have any resentment towards this community, but Gujrati, Rajasthani, South Indians can also speak Hindi, why can't characters from these cultures be incorporated too? 

What are some other cliches you can think of? Let me know in the comments below!

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Until then... signing off!

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