Bollywood Music/Movies

azimscot · Oct 10th, 2009, 07:27 PM

I have watched many foreign films and when the speak in there own language 99% of it is in their own language, but when it comes to bollywood they have very long and short sentences in English where they can use Urdu but choose not to. It tells me that they feel they need to speak English to show there intelligent, modern and advanced and people who cannot speak it are backwards and not knowledgeable. I would like some views from members.

Little Princess · Oct 10th, 2009, 07:34 PM

Esix · Oct 11th, 2009, 04:06 AM

Moved here from cafe

falana banda · Oct 11th, 2009, 04:23 AM

In my opinion the entire bollywood is a wannabe hollywood. Hence they forget their own cultural values and try to be hollywood-ish.

Sara516 · Oct 11th, 2009, 01:33 PM

Okay who and when did this trend start of having half english half hindi movie names? "Jab we met" and i dunno some other ones...i've seen some movies where they speak english and they sound so terrible, yuck.

ChicaGurl · Oct 13th, 2009, 12:47 PM

the only person in bollywood who sounds good speaking in english is katrina kaif total natural

UZ · Oct 13th, 2009, 01:26 PM

I am moving this thread to shor sharaba forum as it belongs there.

Monk · Oct 13th, 2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esix

Moved here from cafe

Quote:

Originally Posted by UZ

I am moving this thread to shor sharaba forum as it belongs there.

Thread hy ky tennis ball??
abhi meen shekaeet lagata hoom feed back meen

Esix · Oct 13th, 2009, 01:41 PM

lolz nahi i thought the discussion was going to a more general "cultured POV"
but it turned out to be more bollywood'ish rather then the language thingy

Lucid Chaotic · Oct 13th, 2009, 02:01 PM

I don't think the language comparison with other foreign films is appropriate. Language, afterall, is an artifact of the social sphere, and in India's case, English has been around for ages, and it has permeated all aspects of life there. It's the major component of diglossia in India. I know many Indians who only speak English because that's the primary language of instruction in schools as well as their social circles. I read somewhere that in terms of English speakers, India ranks third in the world after USA and the UK.

So, no reason for movies not to include the common vernacular while depicting the culture and context that the movie is based on.

UZ · Oct 13th, 2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monk

Thread hy ky tennis ball??
abhi meen shekaeet lagata hoom feed back meen

jo cheez jahaan ki hai whaeen achi lagti hai

라시드 · Oct 13th, 2009, 02:05 PM

It just doesn't sound right...sounds forced and artificial.

Punjabee in USA · Oct 13th, 2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azimscot

I have watched many foreign films and when the speak in there own language 99% of it is in their own language, but when it comes to bollywood they have very long and short sentences in English where they can use Urdu but choose not to. It tells me that they feel they need to speak English to show there intelligent, modern and advanced and people who cannot speak it are backwards and not knowledgeable. I would like some views from members.

The movies that you are talking about depict the average middle class educated Indians. This demographic talks in a mix of Hindi, English and sometimes a regional language even in their day to day life. The movies just depict the language spoken by this demographic.

Also, most Indians are bi-lingual (some can speak more languages) but an average American speaks only English. Hence most Hollywood movies only have English spoke in them.

Bollywood movies based in villages do not have people speaking English in them

라시드 · Oct 13th, 2009, 02:12 PM

Does it sound forced and artificial in real life too?

Punjabee in USA · Oct 13th, 2009, 02:18 PM

^ Depends on what you mean by forced & artificial ? If you mean whether their accent is the same as Americans/Brits - then NO, it isn't.

2gd2btrue · Oct 14th, 2009, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punjabee in USA

The movies that you are talking about depict the average middle class educated Indians. This demographic talks in a mix of Hindi, English and sometimes a regional language even in their day to day life. The movies just depict the language spoken by this demographic.

Also, most Indians are bi-lingual (some can speak more languages) but an average American speaks only English. Hence most Hollywood movies only have English spoke in them.

Bollywood movies based in villages do not have people speaking English in them

Agreed! I think pakistanis speak the same way or atleast those i've met do.

azimscot · Oct 14th, 2009, 05:54 AM

From a Western point of view watching bollywood and seeing people speaking half english and half urdu looks ridiculous. I personally would prefer all english or all urdu language. I feel as a viewer as speaking English is enhancing there personal image, makes them feel and other feel more intelligent, advanced. It's not just words but entire sentences. Also, with the pak/indian accent it doesn't fit into the context of a movie/drams etc

I feel from a pak/indian point of view they see it as wow they can speak good english she must be very intelligent, well educated and rich and people give them respect of that.

If you watch French, German, Japanese films they don't use bi lingul languages only exclusivley there own language.

라시드 · Oct 14th, 2009, 06:07 AM

^They speak Hindustani in Bollywood movies, not Urdu.

Lucid Chaotic · Oct 14th, 2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azimscot

From a Western point of view watching bollywood and seeing people speaking half english and half urdu looks ridiculous. I personally would prefer all english or all urdu language. I feel as a viewer as speaking English is enhancing there personal image, makes them feel and other feel more intelligent, advanced. It's not just words but entire sentences. Also, with the pak/indian accent it doesn't fit into the context of a movie/drams etc

I feel from a pak/indian point of view they see it as wow they can speak good english she must be very intelligent, well educated and rich and people give them respect of that.

If you watch French, German, Japanese films they don't use bi lingul languages only exclusivley there own language.

Did you even read the previous posts in this thread? it might look ridiculous to you as an outsider, but that's how people talk in cities in India, and that's what movies are based on. Again, English is a component in Indian diglossia, and it is spoken in a peculiar form which is different from countries where English is the primary language.

You're looking at it from a Pakistani standpoint where English is not as pervasive, and speaking fluent English is unfortunately taken as a sign of being educated. However, in India, English is pretty much a common language which is used in conjunction with other regional languages.

pallavpotter · Oct 15th, 2009, 01:34 PM

Well, the French, German and the Japanese arent exactly known for their English skills.

and India's large English knowing population is one of the major factors in its economic growth.
further, English is not an exclusive lingoo here. most urbane middle class ppl speak in a mixture of English, Hindustani and the regional language(if any) only.
so no, what you see is what it is.