Chocolate and Gold Coins

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Why Are Indian Movies Mediocre?

I had an insight today. I know why Indian movies, by western standards, are mediocre. The reason is similar to the reason why the India cricket team in 1999 was mediocre despite having the best batsmen (Tendulkar and Ganguly) and some great bowlers as well (Kumble and Srinath).

Hint: the answer has nothing to do with match-fixing. It has to do with labor supply.

Hint number 2. Milli Vanilli.

I will give the answer next week.

posted by Michael Higgins at 07:57 | permalink

8 Comments:

  • This should be interesting!

    By Blogger Vee Cee, at 2:24 PM  

  • Michael: Thanks for explaining your choice of religion as a topic. I'll buy that.
    Now on to Indian movies! Why are they so mediocre? I have some pet theories but I will not preempt you. Looking forward to your answer(s).

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:39 PM  

  • Great Bowlers - Bad analogy mate!

    By Blogger Nilu, at 7:46 PM  

  • Indian movies are of mediocre quality. I'm sure that you will list the reasons soon. And you won't be far off the mark.


    But Indian films have a soul of their own. And no one understands the Indian market's needs like them. So I guess that they will continue to flourish.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:01 AM  

  • Hi VC Sarat Nilu and SloganM
    Nilu: You don't know what the analogy is yet.
    SloganM: True and they can be fun. But I think there could be more vareity.

    VC and Sarat: You'll see next Thursday

    By Blogger Michael Higgins, at 3:22 PM  

  • Hi Michael,
    My $0.02
    Like it or not, I think Indian movies are mediocre because Indians are simply not intelligent enough to appreciate western cinema. People are not flocking to see Bollywood movies because there is no alternative, there are alternatives plenty.

    As you economics guys might put it: the market is always correct (or something like that:-)). Bollywood producers don't have the incentive to hire better writers or produce intelligent cinema because there is not market for it. When the swankiest multiplex in my city started a few years ago, they decided to keep their movie schedule mostly Hollywood. Slowly, they realized that even the audience with larger pockets prefer the latest Bollywood blockbuster to a western movie. Recent posts by GreatBong and Rashmi Bansal on the huge market for Bhojpuri films validates my point. Infact, Indian movies are popular in other third world countries because no matter what the language, the matter appeals to the lowest common denominator.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:32 AM  

  • Many Indian movies are mediocre is a more accurate comment.
    Hey, many hollywood movies are mediocre as well. (in terms of content)

    Some Indian movies are better than many hollywood movies. Most Indian movies are worse than most hollywood movies.
    I agree with kunal. 'matter' appeals to the LCD, if you see what I mean.

    By Blogger raj, at 6:04 AM  

  • Actually, by definition, majority of stuff in the world is medicore. Because, by definition, the truly great can only be few in number. Truly terrible, while apparently evident in every other mediocre movie/book/song etc, is only actually present in,well, the truly terrible movie/song/book, which therefore should be few in number.
    Hence proved my junk theory #2341

    By Blogger raj, at 6:07 AM  

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