The Bollywood diaspora

Where people move across physical boundaries, whether through migration or otherwise, they often find themselves in a new and different cultural environment. This new environment may lead to different ways of identifying with their home culture. 

The concept of diaspora has been used refer to the 'large-scale migration or dispersion of people in general'(Moore 2012). Dudrah writes that diaspora means an 'interplay of migrant people, their successive settled generations, and their ideas in terms of a triadic relationship'(2001, p. 20). This means that there is a three way relationship between migrants, their new/home cultures and their 'diasporic consciousness' that moves between cultures to create a new, hybrid culture (Dudrah 2010, p. 20).

Bollywood cinema is an intrinsic part of Indian culture (Gowricharn, p. 2). Bollywood is not only popular in India but is also popular amongst Indians living abroad (Assisi). Dudrah writes that Bollywood films are an example of 'diasporic and global cultural texts' because of their engagement with Indian communities living abroad and the social and cultural identity crisis they may experience (Dudrah 2010, p. 20). 

Source: http://www.pukaarmagazine.com/?p=649 


For example, in the film Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (The Braveheart Will Take the Bride)a young Indian couple living in England fall in love on a trip to Switzerland. However, the couple must deal with the woman's traditional father who takes her back to India to fulfil an arranged marriage. 

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112870/

This film is an example of the diasporic nature of Bollywood as it engages with the struggle between modernity and tradition experienced by diasporic Indian people. 


References:

Assisi, F, 'Bollywood Culture Binds Global Indian Diaspora', Planet Bollywood, accessed online, <http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayArticle.php?id=051806123941>. 

Dudrah, RK 2002, ‘Vilayati bollywood: popular Hindi cinema-going and diasporic South Asian identity in Birmingham (UK)’, The Public, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 19–36.

Gowricharn, R, 'Bollywood in Diaspora', University of Tilberg, pp. 1-9, accessed online, <http://www.svmk.nl/pdf/bollywood_in_diaspora.pdf>. 

Moore, C 2012, Topic 3: Making Cultures: Diasporas and the Media, accessed online via D2L.