MUMBAI: The evolution of Hindi cinema over the decades reflects both changing societal values and audience tastes. In the aftermath of the Golden Age of Bollywood, certain themes came to dominate narratives and audience expectations. MovieMe- an entertainment tech and content discovery platform did a detailed study to understand the evolutions of the different themes.
In the 1960s and 1970s, themes like love, family, and identity dominated, while more recent narratives have begun to explore themes of struggle, war, truth, and justice, a study by MovieMe reveals. While some classic tropes, such as revenge and familial bonds, remain timeless, contemporary cinema increasingly focuses on deeper societal issues like inequality, freedom, and power.
As the world has changed and Indian society evolved alongside, so too has the content of Hindi films, reflecting the times and concerns of the present day. The new themes we see prevalent today represent a shift in Bollywood’s storytelling approach, moving away from formulaic plots to more diverse, complex narratives.
For this research, MovieMe analyzed nearly 200+ movies across seven decades of Bollywood, including iconic movies like Mughal-E-Azam (1960), Dosti (1964), Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), Guide (1965), Padosan (1968), Satyakam (1969), Anand (1971), Bawarchi (1972), Amar Prem (1972), Koshish (1972), Sholay (1975), Gol Maal (1979), Chupke Chupke (1975), Deewaar (1975), Chhoti Si Baat (1976), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Angoor (1982), Masoom (1983), Sadma (1983), Saaransh (1984), Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Sarfarosh (1999), Satya (1998), Vaastav: The Reality (1999), Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001), Swades (2004), Munna Bhai MBBS (2003), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Hera Pheri (2000), 3 Idiots (2009), Taare Zameen Par (2007), Rang De Basanti (2006), Chak De! India (2007), A Wednesday (2008), Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), Black (2005), PK (2014), Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Barfi! (2012), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), Queen (2013), Kahaani (2012), OMG: Oh My God! (2012), Special 26 (2013), Dangal (2016), Andhadhun (2018), Drishyam (2015), Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016), Chhichhore (2019), Tumbbad (2018), The Kashmir Files (2022), KGF: Chapter 2 (2022), Dil Bechara (2020), Shershaah (2021), 12th Fail (2023), and many more.
It performed keyword analysis of the descriptions of these movies (as per their studios) to understand the most common words and themes represented in them, generating a list of the most popular themes for each decade.”
Could this thematic evolution herald a new Golden Age of cinema, or does it signal a move toward uncharted territory? Clearly, Bollywood has come a long way over the decades – and continues to evolve in its role as a mirror to Indian society said the company.
