Westernization Ruining Bollywood?

Many people are well aware of classic Bollywood movies, such as Mughal-E-Azam, Sholay, Lagaan, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Bollywood seems like it is no longer capable of producing such movies anymore. The directors are more preoccupied with trying to satisfy a foreign audience that they're forgetting about their audience back home. Older movies feature common aspects of live in India, culture, and religion. Everyone remembers Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, right? Well, when Simran left for India, she was going to get married to Kuljit who she's never met before. What does that sound like? She was going to have an arranged marriage. Arranged marriages are a common part of India's culture. Lagaan featured typical village life in India. The film also made a point about the amount of patriotism Indians have for their country. It also highlights the most popular sport in India: cricket. Both films incorporate a bit of Indian culture and themes that Indians can relate to.

Nowadays, we're seeing more and more mindless comedies that are just knock offs of popular Hollywood movies. It seems like creativity is falling short in India. Movies are becoming more modernized with more modern themes that may be difficult for Indians to relate to. The outfits being worn are more western. There's also a significant amount of English being spoken in Bollywood. Just look at the songs. Most songs will now feature a chorus line in English with a few Hindi words added in there just to make a rhyme. For example, the lyrics to Aye Papi from Kismat Konnection does just that:

Tu hai meri soniye
I'll be with you night and day
Jab tujhe dekhein nazrein
Kismat Konnection ho jaaye

The lines interchange between English and Hindi. This is not the chorus of the song, but it's still a prime example of how more and more English is being used in 'Hindi' movies.

A better example would be Dil Dance Maare Re from Tashan:

White white face dheke dil woh beating fast sasura
Jaan se maare re
Oh very... oh very...
Oh very happy in my heart
Dil dance maare re
Very happy in my heart, dil dance maare re

The lyrics are mixed between Hindi and English in the same line! There is no logic or purpose to this song. The song was really making fun of westernization, but it really ended up supporting it.
Not only are the lyrics in songs getting more mindless, the movies themselves are becoming more and more raunchy. India's censor board is trying to keep things descent, but let's face it, it's not really working. In Kurbaan, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were rumored to kiss for the longest duration in any Bollywood movies til date. Even though the censor board wouldn't let the scene be shown completely, the fact that they shot such a scene was a little disturbing. Even in films like Kambakht Ishq, Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor had over ten kisses! What happened to the good old days where a couple would 'kiss' behind the girl's dupatta or behind closed doors?

Not all modern Bollywood movies are giving into the growing trends of globalization and westernization though. Vivaah starring Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao was a film that focused on arranged marriage and how important daughters are to a family. They film retained every aspect of a very well-cultured Indian family, actually a couple of well-cultured families. The film was a hit, which shows that culture is still important.

Some people believe in keeping Indian tradition, but adding a little modern twist here and there. Others believe that India should evolve with modern times. There are others that believe that India should keep its old traditions no matter where the rest of the world is going. No matter what your opinion is, things will forever change, Bollywood included...for the better or for the worse.