09 Aug 09 Classic MGM Film Musicals

I must admit I am not very musical (I am not hooked to Spotify as much as most of my friends) but classical music resonates with me and so I am a sucker for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Last week I went to “A Celebration of Classic MGM Film Musicals” which in-spite of what guardian thought – I found absolutely amazing and exhilarating. Many thanks to John Wilson for his hard work over the years reconstructing MGM and Hollywood’s musical past and sharing it with us at the BBC Proms.

Though I have watched some of the musicals like – The wizard of Oz, The West Side Story, An American in Paris, I must say I had no idea of this amazing history of musicals in Hollywood during and post the great depression . Musicals, in which characters burst out of reality and into song, were a great escape. And, faced with the unprecedented depression of the 1930s, it’s no surprise that, although reality could be found in dramas, the musical was a genre that flourished.

I grew up watching Bollywood movies which is a world of make-believe and I really enjoyed them. But slowly I started moving away from Bollywood as it seemed senseless but at times was still drawn towards some Bollywood movies – into a make-believe world. I always wondered why – I think I too needed a get away into a dream world. This also explains my fascination for Opera’s. I always explained Bollywood to those who did not understand them to be Opera’s from India (a make-believe world where all emotions come together for 3 hours with lots of singing and dancing). I think the same happened during and after the great depression – people needed to get away – far from reality and be in a make-believe world. The same happens in India where people need to get away from reality and Bollywood provides that beautifully. Bollywood unites India in an amazing way bringing people from all regions, cultures, languages, casts to a common platform to share a world of make-believe.

I find it amazing that this era of MGM musicals (lasting about three decades) and entire era of Bollywood is so very similar. In times of difficulty and suffering people do need to get away from reality. This also explains why the west-end is doing so well during recession and Hollywood is thinking about bringing back musicals. I am now less worried about my love for Bollywood movies as I do like to get away. I am certain now that in a couple of decades we will start seeing less songs and dances in Bollywood movies as more people in India get wealthy and move above poverty with less need to be in a make-believe world. Think I will read this post then and smile .

Tags: BBC, BBC proms, Bollywood, Classical, Hollywood, Music