When many people think about India’s film industry they think of it as a whole. It is a part of the film industry, but Bollywood pertains to a majority of just Hindi films. There are many students who attend California State University, Stanislaus (Stan State), who have grown up watching not just Bollywood films but also other films that come from film industries that are based in India.

So then why do many people have a misconception about Bollywood? Gagandeep Kaur (junior, Communication Studies) suggests why people think this way.

“Firstly, Bollywood is part of the mainstream Hindi cinema and is extensively known to many non-Indians due to Bollywood’s more widely known actors and actresses. Moreover, many people think Bollywood encompasses all of Indian cinema,” Kaur said. “However, Bollywood is only one of many film cultures of India. The larger Indian film industry includes other feature films made in many other Indian languages.”

She also provides examples the other film industries India has to offer.

“For example, there is Pollywood, which is part of the Punjabi cinema in the northern region of India. As we go down to southern part of India, we have Tollywood, which is referred to the Telegu and Bengali film industry,” she adds.

One of the biggest misconceptions that we hear is how Bollywood is remaking Punjabi songs. Not just the older songs but even new songs are being remade by Bollywood and it’s not just the lyrics that are different.

Payal Randhawa (freshman, Business) focused on the music part of Bollywood. However, she does not see the remake of songs as a bad thing.

“I feel like it’s fine because it showing the Punjabi culture to a larger audience,” Randhawa stated.

Some of these songs include the remake of: High Heels, Suit, Rail Gaddi, Kala Chasma, Saturday Saturday and there are many more out there. 

All of India’s industries have put out some good films and music. Here are few examples of some films the industries of India has to offer, according to popular opinion:

Punjabi Films                                          Bengali Films

• Love Punjab                                   * Autograph                 

• Angrej                                           * Praktan

• Jina Mera Dil Luteya                       * Belashehse

Marathi Films                                         Tamil

• Sairat                                           * Yevadu

And then of course, Bollywood 

• Kal ho na ho

• Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham

• Dilwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge

• Veer Zara

• My Name is Khan

• English Vinglish