Bollywood

Bombay's prolific Hindi-language film industry is more than just a giant entertainment juggernaut for 1 billion-plus Indians worldwide.

It's a part of Indian culture, language, fashion and lifestyles.

It's also a great bundle of contradictions and contrasts, like India itself.

Thrillers, horror, murder mysteries, courtroom dramas, Hong Kong-style action gunfests, romantic comedies, soap operas, mythological costume dramas...they're all blended with surprising skill into the musical boy-meets-girl formula of Bollywood.

The results are a bizarre, overblown mixture of high concept, ethnic colour, traditional values, high-pitched emotional drama, sizzling sensuality and music, always music.

What's in this book? As well as an introductory essay, a selection of 25 major seminal films are examined in entertaining, intimate detail.

There's also a section on the current state of the industry, the star system, film music and a list of additional books and films that will help you enjoy and make sense of the new Hindi movie showing at your nearest multiplex.