Exploring Bollywood's Impact on Indian American Diaspora: A Report

This report delves into the influence of Bollywood on the Indian American diaspora, focusing on the film "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham." It examines how Bollywood movies mediate cultural citizenship and shape the identity of Indians residing abroad. The report highlights the film's ability to resonate with the emotional sentiments of the Indian diaspora, connecting with audiences on the levels of family, citizenship, and class. It also explores how the film depicts the daily struggles of non-resident Indians (NRIs) and represents Indian values and traditions within a foreign context, thereby playing a crucial role in connecting with the Indian diaspora worldwide. The analysis also compares the film with other Bollywood movies like Pardes and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ), to show the importance of Bollywood movies in the Indian American Diaspora.

Running head: BOLLYWOOD IN INDIAN AMERICAN DIASPORA
BOLLYWOOD IN INDIAN AMERICAN DIASPORA
Name of the Student
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Author Note

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In the following article, “Bollywood in the Indian American Diaspora” by Aswin
Punathambekar, it was said that there is “Indianness” in the American Diaspora after proper
observation and evaluation of the cultural and social practices. In the following article, the
movie, “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” is shown to depict and represent the dilemma of being
an Indian individual residing in a foreign land, in this case the United States of America.
Moreover, the movie, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, also aptly showcases the multitudes of
Indian values of the Indian residents dwelling in a foreign land. Furthermore, this article also
evaluates how Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham explores the Indianness of foreign residents in a
better manner as compared to other films such as Pardes and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
(DDLJ)
The following article also highlights the importance and relevance of Bollywood
movies in shaping the cultural and social identity of the Indians residing in the foreign land.
One of the major reasons for the success of the movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam is due to the
fact that it resonates with the emotional sentiments of the Indian residents residing in a
foreign country outside India.
Additionally, the following article connects to the Indian audience on three major
levels. These may be identified as family, citizenship and class. The following point, in turn,
represents the Indianness of the film. In order to attract more Indian audiences in the
American Diaspora, the movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham represents the everyday struggles
that a non residential Indian (NRI) faces almost every day. The audiences for the movie have
been considered as a vital part of the “Great Indian Family” in the American Diaspora. For
instance, in the movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham the Indian cultures and values are depicted
and represented through small actions in the scenes like the one where the female lead
character, Anjali, was performing the Indian religious and traditional rituals, while residing in
the foreign country. Another example that can be stated is the one where the male lead,

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Rahul, opposes his sister in law’s short attires, which may oppose the Indian traditions,
values and upbringing in an Indian Family.
Thus, it can be concluded from the following article that Hindi Bollywood cinema
played a vital and important role in connecting with the Indian Diaspora residing outside
Indian in any part of the world .

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References:
Punathambekar, A. (2005). Bollywood in the Indian-American diaspora: Mediating a
transitive logic of cultural citizenship. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 8(2),
151-173.