1. Indian Film (Cine) Music Raja Harischandra (1913)

2. Overview Most films are musicals (have song and dance numbers) Popular among all castes and classes and often cross language barriers Many large regional film industries Widely disseminated via (pirated) cassettes Films use “playback” singers to record the songs; the stars lip sync

3. Lata Mangeshkar Playback singer Recorded 30,000 songs for more than 2,000 films between 1948 and 1984 Has sung in more than 20 major Indian languages

4. Musical Style Blend of Indian and Western elements: –Instruments: violin, clarinet, conga, sax, synthesizers, guitars, etc. –Rhythms: foxtrot, polka –Harmony (use of chords) –Melodies mostly diatonic, short phrases –Form (contrasting sections, lack of improvisation) –Homogenous vocal quality

5. Musical Examples Film Bhajan. Combines traditional devotional song form with Western characteristics. Examples from the 1960s. 2006 Hindi film

6. History of Indian Film Industry Cinema introduced in 1896 by the Lumiere brothers. Their tour included Bombay (now, Mumbai). 1898 - First Indian films were of theatrical productions. 1912/13 – First feature-length film. Subject is religious (life of Hindu saint). 1931 – First musical

7. History (cont.) Pre-1940s actors were classically trained singers and dancers, greater influence from Indian classical music tradition, use of “light classical” genres Films produced locally, often reflecting reactions against British colonialism. Some were censored. Post-1940s (1947-end of British rule) British taxes and censorship forced many smaller companies out of business Replaced by large corporations in Bombay (“Bollywood”) and Madras, star system

8. Why Popular? Continuity between traditional rural theater and cinema in themes, style Widely disseminated outside of cinema Fantasy element serves as escape for those in severe poverty (escapist?) Strong star system Genre conducive to incorporation and blending of various Indian and non-Indian musics.

9. Vijaya Anand examples “Cooking Up a Song”