Thought Catalogue "When the Spotlight Fades: Bollywood's Identity Crisis"

 

Concept Note:

For generations, Bollywood has been the pulse of India, known for its lavish song sequences, larger-than-life sets, courageous heroes, and escapist drama that drew millions to cinema halls. Today, however, the industry stands at a crossroads. Many audiences express a growing sense of fatigue with formula-driven narratives, recycled plots, and predictable climaxes that struggle to leave an emotional impact. Meanwhile, regional cinema and global platforms are experimenting with fresh writing, layered characters, and bold storytelling that increasingly capture the imagination of younger viewers. This raises an important question: are we witnessing a decline, or a transformation? Rather than a “death,” could this be a period of reinvention where stronger stories, diverse voices, and new creative approaches take center stage? Perhaps what lies ahead is not the death of Bollywood, but a call to writers to dig deeper, and to audiences to demand more for a cinema that feels true to the times we live in.