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Edwin Schlossberg said - "The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think". My aim here is to do exactly that: create a corner in the online world that forces one to re-think and question ideas that are treated as a given.

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The future of Indian Cinema aka BOLLYWOOD

Driving down at 80 mph from LA to San Diego my mind was totally focused on the functioning or rather mal-functioning of the Indian Cinema aka Bollywood, this after watching a couple of the popular Koffee with Karan Johar episodes!

While King Khan SRK, Big B and Hrithik Roshan were all happily chatting about their past and present on the show my thought process was hoping for some visions for the future from the superstars.

What lies ahead ?

Why is it that producers are willing to spend zillions of dollars in shooting on location in UK/US for masala movies but not in INNOVATIVE SCRIPTS...

And then there are others like Aishwarya Rai, Om Puri, Shekhar Kapur who tried dabbling in British and American productions....

WHY ISN'T SOMEONE trying to make quality films in India for viewers worldwide and by that I just don't mean Indians worldwide...

If European movies like Amelie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Asian movies like Stephen Chow's KUNG FU HUSTLE can be distributed and marketed by SONY, Miramax, etc. why can't India produce quality movies for the world population...

India lacks no talent or resources in any field whatsoever..
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050418/ts_afp/afplifestyleusfilmindia_050418174712

With specific context to this article where Mr. Amitabh Bachchan talks about racial stereotyping which is why he claims he never set his eyes on Hollywood, I would like to question him if Hollywood did not welcome him with any offers why didn't he make the typical Hindi movie all with the song-dance sequences but with a strong story line for a global audience...It really pains my heart to see a talented actor like Mr. Bachchan copying AL PACINO from SCARFACE in his vastly successfully AGNIPATH! Why couldn't it be vice versa ? Why don't we make original movies ? Why copy the West ?

While India is finally proving its mettle in the areas of science, technology and business I don't see why Indian authors, actors, directors and producers cannot create a new era of Indian cinema for the world to see and admire.

This should be a challenge that an ambitious star actor and businessman Shahrukh Khan (who apparently does not have an official website :) ) who has it all: the influence, work experience and big bucks; should strive for. There is nothing more left for him to achieve in India than scale new heights of global success, fame and wealth. I don't know how Shahrukh Khan motivates himself to keep doing the samething day in and out without any new challenges in life ? Shouldn't the new generation of BOLLYWOOD try to make a real difference in how the world perceives India today - as a nation of 1 billion smart, beautiful and diverse people not just as a land of snake charmers!

If Sabeer Bhatia could create a new phenomenon called HOTMAIL for the world to use can't we dare have an INDIAN CINEMA for the WORLD AS WELL ?