Local lovers of world cinema bring “Bollywood” to Taylorsville.
29 March 2007 | Uncategorized | No Comments
They come from as far away as Elko, Provo, Idaho Falls, Logan and Evanston. Some speak the language the film is in; some don't. A group of people from a variety of nations now living in a variety of places in the Intermountain West gathers together in Taylorsville on weekends to watch Bollywood films in the same theatres usually reserved for Hollywood releases.
It's a weekly foreign film festival—not in Park City or downtown Salt Lake City but at the Showcase Cinemas, just off Redwood Road at 5400 South. It's not organized or funded by any particular society or institution of higher learning but rather by entrepreneurs and community groups. The goal is not to educate American audiences about award-winning, high-concept films from another part of the world but to provide a growing immigrant community with a chance to see the first-run hit movies they would be watching with millions of others if they were still living in their country of origin. This blend of community and commerce allows people to come together in their new home, while at the same time offers a business opportunity for those putting on the event. …
Travel agent and entrepreneur Hadeed Ameen has been exhibiting Indian films in local theaters for a couple of years. The movies have generally been hits abroad and often feature some of the biggest stars from Bollywood. He generally relies on word of mouth and putting up posters at Indian-run small businesses to get the word out about the films. Hadeed's son Khurram helps out by running a concessions stand featuring Indian food so filmgoers can pick up either popcorn or a channa plate on their way into the show. The movies are in Hindi with English subtitles, but Hadeed said his audience—which can sometimes number around 200 for a given showing—includes not just Hindi-speakers, but those familiar with subtitled Bollywood films from home countries such as Nepal, Afghanistan, Tibet and even the Middle East and Africa.
Hadeed said the difference between American and Indian films is often the way a similar plot plays out in terms of the two different cultures. "The story lines are the same," Khurram said, "but the culture is part of the story. Our culture is more respect-based when it comes to elders. A lot of the story lines are oriented around the family—if you love somebody but your family doesn't love them." ….read more
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