Entertainment and Movies are synonymous with each other. Movies are so interlinked with our lives today that it is difficult to imagine life without it. Movies clearly opens a most useful window onto a culture and by studying a culture one acquires deeper understanding of the customs, behaviour patterns, values, arts and crafts and also the practices of everyday life of the people inhabiting that culture. India, is thus one such country that is so diverse in its nature but secular in its form. All different cultures and traditions are an integral part of our country, which again explains as to why the Indian Movie industry is such an enormous one. Movies were introduced to India on July 7, 1896. It began with the Lumiere Brothers` Cinematography, unveiling six silent short films at the Watson Hotel in Bombay, namely Entry of Cinematographe.

India is the largest movie-producing country in the world; producing over 900 Movies annually. Indian Movies, thus, are gaining popularity like never before. These are screened not only in Asia, but also in East Africa, Mauritius, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Britain, Canada, Australia, the United States and the countries associated with the former Soviet Union. The world of Indian Movies is a very fascinating one that has mesmerized every person, on a global platform. Though a large industry, very few of us actually know its intricacies and its main elements that actually go in to make it a great form of entertainment for the global masses. Indian Movies, like many of the other cinema industries in world, both reflects and is reflected through the country`s political, economic, social and cultural aspects.

The connection of art and culture might sound way too different, but the same is omnipresent; especially in India. Since, its inception, the Indian cinema has concentrated on various subjects that have been the important aspects of the films. Such subjects have highlighted the problems, complexities and the various aspects of the Indian society in general. And such subjects have indeed created ripples in the past and hence have acknowledged notable Indian films and filmmakers throughout the world. Thus, came into being, the concept of Indian art cinema. One can see, as early as the 1930`s, just two decades after the first Indian film was made, caste became a central issue of cinematic exploration in films like "Achut Kanya", (The Untouchable Girl). A more sophisticated approach to caste can be seen in Sujata (of high caste), produced in 1959.

Similarly, deeper insights into the complex processes of modernization, colonialism, nationalism and freedom for women can be acquired through the Indian art cinema. When we consider Indian films, we see how the filmmakers have promoted westernization, the emancipation of women and the other caste related problems, the rights of the minorities and most importantly the relationships between Hindus and Muslims. Even aspects like fashion & lifestyle, have played a central role in Indian society which generated awareness and have influenced public opinions on issues like drugs, violence and sex.

Likewise, there are a number of genres and styles of Indian Movies that a viewer encounters, such as, romantic, comedies, gangster films, horror films, westerns, melodramas, musicals and historical films. While some of these genres are present in Indian cinema, often as a consequence of the impact of the western films, the Indian filmmakers have also created some styles of their own, that are acknowledged as their own. This is clearly discernible in the popular tradition of filmmaking in India.

The knowledge of Indian cinema provides an entry into the thought-worlds and performance-worlds to the people interested in this art. Many Indian film directors, right from the pioneers such as Dadasaheb Phalke to the modern ones like Yash Chopra, have deployed their creativity along with traditional forms of dance & mime, folk & classical music to enhance the communicated experience. Commercial Cinema has evolved into a distinctively Indian mode of entertainment by imaginatively amalgamating music dances also and the works of veteran directors like V.Shantaram. Guru Dutt and Raj Kapoor bear a testimony to this fact. So, through Indian cinema one can also enter the larger world of Indian aesthetics.

Indian Movies has presented a detailed version of India from its different historical movies to its present scenario movies. The distinct genres of films depicted by the different filmmakers have helped in the study of India from a different and distinct angle of vision. Thus, one cannot help but realize the fact that indeed it has been the old traditions and the cultures that have actually framed the Indian Movies, which have been an encouragement to uplift India and make it one of the renowned countries in the world. By seeing the cultures and traditions of the distinct societies, people can examine their own country`s culture with fresh eyes and with a special vision and approach.

History of Indian Cinema
All around the world people have heard or seen the eccentricity of Indian cinema or have at least been exposed to the elaborate song and dance routines, indicative of Indian cinema through modern films. But very few people are actually aware of the progression of the Indian cinema, the largest film industry in the world, which produces about 800 films annually.By the `30s, Bollywood was producing about 200 films annually. One can also see the Hindi music becoming an essential component to Bollywood films in the `30s. By the late `60s, a new Indian cinema, unlike the commercial cinema, was emerging. And again by the `90s, new wave cinema died down. Thus, now, in the 2000`s most Bollywood films today are fantastic, featuring song and dance routines and straying from realistic portraits of daily life. Thus, whether one enjoys these fantastic films, or not it is very important to recognize the substantial presence of Bollywood in the modern film industry.

Indian Regional Films
Regional cinemas are the keys to the Indian cinema industry. Film making in regional languages began sometime later than Hindi cinema.India is unique in its kaleidoscope of diverse languages and cultures. There are at least 15 languages and over 2000 dialects and films are produced in most of the official languages. Thus, the regional cinema industry encompasses Assamese Films, Marathi Films, Telugu Films, Tamil Films, Gujarati Films, Punjabi Films, Bengali Films, Malayalam Films, Kannada Films & Oriya Films.

Bollywood Pioneers
Bollywood or the Indian film industry and entertainment are synonymous with each other. Bollywood takes the viewer into a surreal world of illusion, an exhilarating experience of drama,emotions, passion and hope. Hindi cinema in more ways than one has mirrored the rapid changes in the social fabric of India. One genre of filmmaker takes a realistic look at art while the other presents an escapist view. However all of this could not have been possible without the contributions made by the pioneers of the Indian film industry. We acknowledge and pay our tribute to these great stalwarts whose vision has been instrumental in shaping the future of the Indian film industry.

Luminaries of the Indian Film Industry
The luminaries of the Indian Film industry, apart from being the actors and actresses also involve the other film personalities, that are considered as the actual reigning stars of Bollywood, who are equally involved in providing the celebrities the share of their own glory! The luminaries involve the famous Bollywood Writers, Film Directors, Music Directors, Indian Singers, Actors and Actresses. We are referring to the famous stars of the hindi film industry that have been stars in their own right and have reigned the bollywood scene for a long time. They all been a famous chapter in the Indian history and will be remembered for many years to come.

Indian Film Awards
The Indian Film fraternity is awarded by various Production and Television Channels in appreciation of their laborious efforts and entertaining the nation with the largest number of films produced in the world each year. There is no dearth of film awards in India. Infact first there were only the Filmfare Awards, which were considered to be the highest level of film awards. But then, after some years, there were also the beginning of the National Film Awards, Star Screen Awards and many more of them. This surely shows the level of appreciation of the film industry by the population.

Film Boards & Associations
The Indian hindi film industry is a very renowned industry all around the world and hence this industry has conceptionalised various boards and associations for the smooth working of the hindi film fraternity all around the world. By setting up such organisations, they have actively supported for the cause of this industry, along with providing various benefits for the active people in this industry. All the organisations are formed at the national level and by doing the same, all the activities are carried out at a national level.

Stages in Filmmaking
Films are produced by recording actual people and objects with cameras, or by creating them using animation techniques and/or special effects. An entire production cycle typically has three parts. The first part consists of development. The second part comprises preproduction and production. The third part, consists of post-production and distribution.