Features
Hip Hop and Bollywood
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There is little doubt that the critical and commercial success of the film Slumdog Millionaire (which recently won the Academy Award for Best Picture) has greatly increased the mainstream exposure to the Indian based, Hindi language film industry, known more colloquially as Bollywood. The question remains, though, if the sensibilities of Bollywood cinema will become a Western mainstay or was Slumdog a fluke cinematic experience.
But one thing we do know for sure is that Western culture is affecting the plots and characters of many Bollywood films. In particular, hip hop culture is beginning to plant its seeds in the Indian film industry in many different ways.
Examples of this can be seen in Slumdog Millionaire, in an extended sequence, the two main characters, children Jamal and Salim, stow away aboard a cross-country train, hustling to survive at the various stops and even on the train itself. The entire sequence is backed by the monster hit “Paper Planes” by the English-born artist of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, M.I.A. The hip hop influenced artist also appears on (and received an Oscar nomination for) the song “O…Saya” with world famous Indian film composer A.R. Rahman.
While Slumdog, is greatly is grounded in Indian culture, it is still essentially a Western film where hip hop culture has already infiltrated. Nonetheless, films that are coming straight out of Bollywood are seeing the growing influence of the Western and hip hop culture as well.
In 2008, the film Singh is Kinng was released starring Akshay Kumar as a Punjabi villager who ends up becoming the king of the Australian underworld. The film was a massive success in itself, having the third biggest gross of any Bollywood film last year, but gained particular notoriety for its soundtrack. The title song featured Snoop Dogg rapping with the British-based Bhangra band RDB. Not only that, Snoop makes a cameo in the film, performing said song.
Clearly these are just the early examples of the infusion between Bollywood and hip hop, but not everyone is happy about the relationship. Chicago rapper Amar Choksi (who goes by the stage name Gandhi) is an Indian-American rapper whose music is greatly inspired by his heritage. He isn’t so sure if this collaboration that works so well with his music, really makes sense in film.
“To be honest, it kind of pisses me off,” explained Choksi. “The main reason is because the Hindi songs that they used to have were so poetic, catchy, and meaningful. With the hip hop added in the movies, it just doesn’t make the movies flow as well.”
Choksi’s believes that Americanization is having a detrimental effect on Hindu culture. “They are basically trying to mix the two cultures, but it just doesn’t work to me.”
So while the Bollywood sensibility may not be completely overwhelmed by the Western film industry, it looks like hip hop will continue to be developed into the plots and music of Indian cinema, because, in many ways, it comes down to financial motivation not only for Hindi filmmakers, but Western hip hop artists as well, . “it’s a strategy for them to become noticed in the international market as well,” said Choksi.
If there are dollars (and rupees) to be made, said Choksi, they will be made. “It’s a business, so as long as the money is there, I’m pretty sure rappers will be more than willing to collaborate.”
Michael Proper earned his Bachelors of Arts in Communication from DePaul University in June 2008. His concentration was Radio, Television and Film. He has been writing for the web for several years, and has decided to write for Deft Magazine as yet another platform to express his love for popular culture. He also blogs at The Proper Lounge.
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