While the birth of the genres in Indian cinema took place in the 1930s but it took time to develop properly. Initially it was the popular films in the form of mythological films that hit the screens. Apart from the Mumbai film industry other regional film industries were also growing. There too the birth of the genres led to the making of a several kinds of films. `Variety is the spice of life` and to entertain the masses films were made on large scale and on different subjects. While the 1930s saw the making of mythologies and historical romances 1940s popularised the costume dramas. The birth of this genre also helped the Indian movies to maintain the glamour quotient. However, simultaneously, films on social issues were also being made in the late 1940s and through 1950s.

By the 1960s, Indian cinema shifted its focus from social concerns to a spate of romantic musicals. This was also the time that birth of other genres took place. The rise of Auteur cinema led to the making of some of the finest film in the history of Indian cinema.

In the 1970s, middle-class filmgoers, understandably tired of the preponderance of frothy romances and undemanding musicals, found an alternative in the middle-of-the-road cinema spearheaded by the likes of Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Basu Chatterjee, Basu Bhattacharya and Gulzar. This trend continued with directors like Paranjype and others. Filmmakers like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Shaji Karun, Girish Karnad, G Kassaravalli and others also came up with films that completely changed the way Indian movies looked. The birth of the genres like the multi starrer melodramas once again brought apparent changes in the Indian cinema.

Based on such an illustration Indian cinema can be broadly divided into two sections: Indian Commercial Cinema and Indian Art Movies. With the birth of these genres Indian cinema became more interesting.