symbolism http://www.cinemaroll.com/tags/symbolism New posts about symbolism Bollywood 101 http://www.cinemaroll.com/Musical/Bollywood-101.240423 In my years of watching Bollywood films as an outsider I have made a few observations. There are some themes, especially in the pre-2000 films that I suspect reflect traditional Indian culture as well as the their love of fantasy and the influence of the West on their culture.

  • Caste system implied, rarely overtly mentioned (Tere Naam)
  • Upholding of ‘laj’ – honour (Andaaz)
  • Upholding of traditional morality
  • Position of parents in society (Munnabhai M.B.B.S.)
  • Mother as giver and taker of life (Vaastav)
  • Fate/karma v. choice (Vaastav, Tere Naam, Devdas)
  • The dance/dream sequence (often filmed in Switzerland –their ideal – Kashmir/Kasmir without the violence – looks like Kasmir
  • Good girl gets good boy – one will invariably be poor
  • A man is a boy until he marries (as in society) regardless of his age
  • Symbolism of names – e.g. Sapna (dreams), Raj (prince) Prem (love), Shanta (peace), Sonu (listen), Suraj (sun), Nirjara (immortality – Tere Naam) and Radha (mythological milkmaid who loved Prince Krishna although she could never have him – male form Radhe seen in Tere Naam) – this is rarely translated or explained in subtitles; Deepak (light/lamp), Aarti (fuel) in Sirf Tum, Aarti is destined for Deepak, she is the fuel for the lamp of his heart
  • Songs sung by professional singers – playback singers – who now want more credit and to be seen – like Adnan Sami
  • Traditional marriage v. modern marriage
  • Traditional masala films v. modern westernised film
  • Films are often remakes of Hollywood or old Hindi films
  • Mythological undertones (Khal Nayak – Ganga, Ram & Ballu = Sita, Ram & Ravana – Ganga stays pure to Ram whist with villain Ballu)
  • Majority have song and dance (often without reason)(like Elvis)
  • Sinners must be punished – even if they reform at the end – often by death
  • Ghost/horror films are rare due to belief in reincarnation
  • To be or not to be – English/Modern/Western (Andaaz)
  • There is no actor greater than Amitabh Bachchan – the “Big B”

1949 – Andaaz (Style)

Nargis Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar

Wife defies social convention by keeping a male friend, who is in love with her, and is punished for it.

1977 – Khoon Pasina (Blood Sweat)

Amitabh Bachchan,Vinod Khanna, Rekha

During Partition two boys, one muslim, one Hindu, who had been taught to hate injustice and fight for the common good, are separated and orphaned. Adulthood sees one as a gangster and the other as a vigilante.

1981 – Lawaaris (Orphan)

Amitabh Bachchan

A singer dies in childbirth after being cast off by the father. Her child grows to adulthood and searches for the truth about his father, teaching people about compassion and justice along the way.

1993 – Khal Nayak (The Villain)

Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit

Poor boy, Ballu, becomes a hired killer, after emotional betrayal by family, only to be reformed by his love for his captive policewoman Ganga, fiancée of Inspector Ram, Ballu’s childhood friend who is hunting him. Power of emotion.

1998 – Earth 1947

Aamir Khan

Creation of Pakistan and the lives this affects (Parsee, Muslim, Christian, Hindu)

1999 Sirf Tum (Only You)

Sanjay Kapoor, Sushmita Sen

Deepak and Aarti begin a correspondence and find that for them, love begins with the heart and reaches the eyes. After a series of mishaps they finally meet, turning down marriages to wealthy individuals along the way.

1999 – Vaastav (The Reality)

Sanjay Dutt (son of Nargis)

Troublemaking poor boy, Raghu, makes good as street vendor but accidentally falls foul of local mafia and has to kill in self-defence, led astray by his ‘saviours’, he ends up a mafia boss himself until his world catches up with him due to the government official in actual control. Study of destiny v. choice, no one is to be completely sympathised with, considered one of the best mafia films.

2002 sequel – Hathyar

The son, Rohit, follows in his father’s footsteps and meets a similar end

2002 – Devdas

Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff, Aishwarya Rai

Childhood sweethearts, Devdas & Paro, are forever parted by death, caste, tradition, family and their own obstinate natures. The courtesan, Chandramukhi, demonstrates true unconditional love that expects nothing. Visually stunning, based on 1917 Bengali novel. Tagline: A grand saga of timeless love.

2003 – Munnabhai M.B.B.S.

Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Dutt (father), Arshad Warsi

Gangster Munna (Murli Prasad Sharma) goes to medical college to win his father’s (Hari Prasad Sharma) respect and get the girl (a doctor) as well as restore his father’s respect in eyes of the girl’s father – the head of the college. Teaches others about the power of affection. Tagline: His prescription is …love.

2003 – Tere Naam (In Your Name)

Salman Khan

A lower caste troublemaker, Radhe, is reformed by his love for a priest’s daughter, just when she reciprocates (and her family relents) he suffers a brain injury and is sent away to an ashram, rather than marry another she commits suicide, devastated – he mourns. Fate and undying love. Tagline: Unfortunately a true love story.

]]> Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:56:41 PST 10 Common Phallic Symbols in Cinema http://www.cinemaroll.com/Cinemarolling/10-Common-Phallic-Symbols-in-Cinema.105983

  • Guns

    Bullets, guns, torpedoes, bombs and the like are quintessential icons of masculinity and power. James Bond flicks and gangster films are rife with them. One of the most memorable scenes in all of filmdom is Major T. J. "King" Kong bronco busting a bomb in “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.”

  • Rockets

    Missiles and rockets blasting off into space are phallic symbols with driving purpose. No one misses the significance of an explosion of fireworks at the culmination of a romantic scene.

  • Spears

    Weapons are often used to represent power, but in the case of piercing instruments, the phallic embodiment is unmistakable. Spears, swords, stakes, knives, spikes and arrows are all prime examples.

  • Trains

    Trains, especially aerodynamic bullet trains, have become so entrenched as phallic symbols in films, they have lost all semblance of subtlety.Is there any doubt as to the meaning of a train rushing full speed ahead into a tunnel? Anyone over the age of sixteen probably “gets it” loud and clear.

  • Cigars

    The use of cigars to convey male prowess has taken on a new sensibility since the Monica Lewinsky affair. The general public is too savvy now to ever let a cigar scene go unnoticed. In fact, sexual innuendo is likely to be suspected even when it isn't meant at all.

  • Fountains

    Going beyond simple phallic symbolism, fountains, gushing oil wells, shower heads, and spewing water hoses all represent male domination. The shower scene in “Pyscho” is a classic example.

  • Staffs

    Kings, popes, and emperors all carry scepters as unmistakable symbols of their power. Wands, canes, clubs, bobbysticks, whips and poles all fall into the same category and serve the same iconic purpose.

  • Monoliths

    Large imposing structures, such as the Empire State Building in “King Kong” or the monolith in “2001: A Space Odyssey” are associated with strength and permanence. The Washington Monument, smokestacks, towers, steeples, chimneys, columns, siloes, and pillars have all found their way into films as phallic symbols.

  • Serpents

    Since biblical times, and probably before that, snakes have symbolized masculinity at its darkest. It is no coincidence that evil aliens are characteristically phallus shaped. Darth Vader and the storm troopers in the “Star Wars” films and the chestburster in “Alien,” are blatant examples.

  • Miscellany

    Some phallic symbols don't seem to fall into any obvious category, yet are so extensively used they deserve mentioning. Pens, candles, men's ties, bones, men's hats, and door knobs are some that come readily to mind.

    • This list is by no means a complete accounting of all cinematic phallic symbols. If you feel I've missed something major, please leave a comment.

    One more thing, just because a movie has a water fountain or a club doesn't necessarily mean it's intended to be phallic. Even Sigmund Freud recognized that “sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”

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