Janet CollinsBritain’s First Bollywood Acting School
April 10th 2009 10:35
The success of Slumdog Millionaire has spurned interest in Bollywood performance. Britain is now opening its first drama school for Bollywood acting training and many are signing up.
Thirteen British Asians who are forsaking careers in law and finance and other professional streams have already enrolled in Britain’s first Bollywood acting school, presumably fired up by Slumdog Millionaire.
What I find interesting is that I didn’t see Slumdog Millionaire as a Bollywood movie. More Hollywood than Bollywood, the movie was absent of the farce and singing and dancing that is pure Bollywood and I often wonder why anyone could describe this movie as a Bollywood one.
The only resemblance ito me is that it was set in Mumbai. Even then, many Bollywood movies are filmed outside of India. Nevertheless, many a 20-something, often prepared to walk away from promising careers in business, medicine, engineering and law, are lining up for the course.
Course organisers say that the course gives British Asians a chance to break into something that their home-grown industry can’t offer them because in most films Asians are typecast as doctors, shopkeepers and even terrorists.
Like all drama schools though, organisers admit that admittance to the course can be tough, although not nearly as tough as other Bollywood acting schools in India where they tell hopefuls that they are too fat or that they should try South Indian cinema.
Whether or not you agree that Slumdog is pure Bollywood or not, the course has been praised by its director, Danny Boyle, who has been invited to take a master class at the school.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Picture Credit: Devdas Bollywood Film in telegraph.co.uk
| 60 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
i havent watched any films from the Bollywood genre, but i understand them to be similar to western musicals . . . maybe Hugh Jackman could give it a go?
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
Hugh Jackman would certainly drag me along to them.
Comment by Postmodern Critic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Comment by Wilson Pon
Health 2 Know
Adventure Toes
boxing sound
Business Rope
Fun Places 2 Travel
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
Wilson - Good point....and how many people know Hindi let alone be able to sing it. Thanks you for commenting.
Comment by Unknown
Comment by Unknown
Comment by Anonymous
Is there a bollywood acting school in Las Vegas?