Indian cinema
South Indian cinema: In terms of the number of films produced each year, the Indian Film Industry is the largest in the world. Tickets for movies in India are the cheapest in the world. The vast cinema-going Indian public is the main support of the Indian film industry. These days, films made in India are gaining in popularity all over the world, especially in countries where there are large numbers of expatriate Indians. Apart from Bollywood, which is the popular name for the Hindi film industry based in Mumbai, there are several regional film industries in India. According to the Census of India conducted in 1991, there are approximately 10,400 raw mother tongues, but if you closely relate and group mutually comprehensible dialects, the number can be reduced to 1,576 rationalized mother tongues. With more consolidation, it adds up to 114 main languages. The producers of Indian films have made films in thirty of the most widely spoken languages. However, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam and Bengali are the only largest language groups that support regional industries. Official statistics categorize Indian films based on the language in which they are distributed. A great deal of mobility is present between the regional industries. People working in one regional industry move on to work in other film industries nationally or internationally, once their popularity and talent is established. The Hindi film industry is the largest in terms of box office receipts and numbers of films that are produced. However, distinctions between regional cinemas may be eroding because of the new practice of continuous releases in several languages. Previously, producers used to be very cost-conscious and paid only to have a film dubbed in another language if it had been a hit in the first language. Dubbed films were always later re-releases. Today, filmmakers release versions in multiple languages simultaneously.
- Telugu Film Industry: Taking a cue from ‘Bollywood’, this industry is also known as Tollywood and is based in Hyderabad, in Andhra Pradesh, India. After the Hindi film industry, the Telugu language film industry produces the most numbers of films in India. R.S. Prakash made the first Telugu film Bhishma Pratigna in 1922. The most notable contributor of this film industry was Yaragudipati Varada Rao (1903-1973). Rao directed silent films like Pandava Agnathavaas, Pandava Nirvana, and Hari Maya. The first Telugu talkie, Bhakta Prahlada, was released in 1931. It was directed by Hanumappa Muniaapa Reddy. Most of these early Telugu films were based on mythological stories that drew inspiration from the ever-vibrant Telugu stage and drama industry. The first Telugu film based on mythology was Premavijayam made by Krittiventi Nageswara Rao in 1936. Other Telugu filmmakers were very influenced by this film. Untouchability (Mallapilla, 1938), the feudal zamindari system (Raitu Bidda, 1939) and widow remarriage were some of the other popular themes that films of that era were based on.
- Tamil Film Industry: This industry is based in the Kodambakkam area of Chennai. It is also known as Kollywood, and is one of the most successful Indian film industries. Tamil films are very popular in countries like Japan, Malaysia, Canada, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka and United States.
- Kannada Film Industry: It is based in Karnataka and is sometimes known as “Sandalwood” as Karnataka is well known for its sandalwood forests and products, although it is not in popular use. The Gubbi Veeranna Company, or Veeranna's Sri Chennabasaveshwara Krupa Poshita Nataka Sangha along with other groups established themselves as theater troupes and later dominated Kannada cinema in the 1960s.
- Malayalam Film Industry: This film industry is also known as “Mollywood”, and is based in Kerala. Malayalam movies are well known for their artistic nature.
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