SPATIAL DYNAMICS AND SEXUAL ECONOMIES: DECODING BOLLYWOOD'S ROMANTIC COMEDIES (1989-2002)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i1.2024.4979Keywords:
Bollywood’s Long 90s, Romantic Love, Star System, Spectacle, Sexual Economy, Spatial DynamicsAbstract [English]
This article examines the cinematic period referred to as the "Long 90s”, which extends from the release of Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) Dir. Sooraj R. Barjatya to Ham Tumhare Hain Sanam (2002) Dir. K. S. Adiyaman. Within this timeframe, a series of films redefined the romantic comedy genre, including Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) Dir. Sooraj R. Barjatya, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) Dir. Aditya Chopra, Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) Dir. Yash Chopra, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) Dir Karan Johar, Mohabbatein (2000) Dir. Aditya Chopra, and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) Dir. Karan Johar. These films developed a cinematic language that intricately wove the themes of youthful romance with familial harmony, with Maine Pyar Kiya laying the groundwork and Ham Tumhare Hain Sanam marking its conclusion. This article identifies seven defining features of these films: romantic love as a societal force, elaborate song-and-dance sequences, the negotiation between modernity and tradition, the presence of star performers, an emphasis on the extended family, spatial power dynamics, and the familial regulation of sexuality. This article attempts to understand the latitude and longitude plausible for a journal article. Drawing upon the insights of political thinkers, film scholars, and cultural theorists, this article situates these developments within broader discussions of nationalism, globalisation, and cultural identity. Additionally, it explores how the advent of multiplexes and streaming platforms has transformed audience demographics and film interpretation. The article posits that the Long 90s Bollywood romantic comedies significantly influenced millions’ conceptualisation of love, family, and belonging, thereby illustrating Hindi cinema's capacity to craft narratives that both entertain and codify social hierarchies.
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