graphics, the website offers current news, reviews and trailers, but also encompasses other mediums of communication such as news media and the music industry and the ways in which they relate to the Indian film industry. Screen also offers unique content in its updates on regional cinema and emphasis on the overall Indian entertainment business, from television to gaming. However, the website is text intensive, with no streaming videos and limited graphics and is difficult to navigate. On the other end of the spectrum, Bollywood World has a fantastic lay out and user- friendly structure along with multi- media forms of communication, but the website is far too glamor oriented, with more focus on the private lives of celebrities rather than the business of the industry. Moreover, there is virtually no interactivity as the website does not even have a "contact us" link. Conversely, Planet Bollywood is perhaps the most interactive Bollywood website, allowing readers to vote for films while reading its reviews, and contribute to information through people's choice polls. The website is truly indicative of audience receptions to new films or industry affairs, nonetheless, it completely lacks in terms of design and navigability. Finally, two niche websites that really caught my attention were Upper Stall and Passion for Cinema. Upper Stall is perhaps the only website that provides an academic analysis of Indian films, with a special focus on classical Indian cinema as well as independent short films and documentaries that are largely ignored in the industry today. The site's visual design, as indicated by the graphic above, appropriately reflects its content and is professional and sophisticated, a stark contrast to most online Bollywood sources. Unlike Upper Stall which has limited interactivity, Passion for Cinema, the only blog I chose to add to my linkroll, has well written and thoroughly researched entries as well as critical analysis of films and events in the industry, maintained by revered writers and eminent Bollywood personalities. Despite being the only Bollywood blog of its kind, its structure and navigability has a lot to be desired. It is clear through my findings that there is a dearth of high quality Bollywood websites, not only by professionals but also by enthusiasts and scholars, perhaps because the web as a medium has not yet matured in India and has limited reach across the nation. Through my blog, I hope to personally contribute to the growth of current and relevant online resources on the Indian film industry.
02 March, 2008
Sticking to the Silver Screen: Bollywood's Lack of Representation on the Internet
This week I decided to explore the web for informative and esteemed Bollywood websites, in an attempt to build my linkroll and allow my blog to serve as a useful resource to my readers as well as myself. After extensive navigation and on applying the Webby Awards and IMSA Criteria to the websites I selected, I was somewhat disappointed with the quality of online resources available for Bollywood enthusiasts and industry experts. Box Office India is perhaps the most visited for its detailed analysis of revenue collections of recently released films, compilations of the top grossers since the 1940s and profit breakdowns in terms of national territories and international sales. Despite its organized structure and easy navigability however, the website has delayed updates regarding opening weekend collections and lacks interactivity. Similarly, over and above the limited content of Variety: India, the website also lacks interactive elements and engaging graphics, but provides a global perspective on Bollywood, focusing on its international performance and relevance in Hollywood. In contrast, India FM is probably the most extensive in terms of content, with film reviews from India's most revered critics, on-the-ball news updates, and exclusive behind the scenes footage and interviews. The website has superb functionality with a tremendous breadth of broadband content that is compatible across all platforms, and is highly interactive with its high- traffic forums. Business of Cinema is also extremely resourceful with respect to content, offering detailed analysis on the business of the industry, from documenting home video sales to the online consumption of movies. Nevertheless, the website suffers from poor visual design and has several outdated links. Bollywood.com suffers from similar aesthetic and structural shortcomings, with a disorganized layout and unprofessional visual design. Despite the distracting inundation and repetition of graphics, the website offers current news, reviews and trailers, but also encompasses other mediums of communication such as news media and the music industry and the ways in which they relate to the Indian film industry. Screen also offers unique content in its updates on regional cinema and emphasis on the overall Indian entertainment business, from television to gaming. However, the website is text intensive, with no streaming videos and limited graphics and is difficult to navigate. On the other end of the spectrum, Bollywood World has a fantastic lay out and user- friendly structure along with multi- media forms of communication, but the website is far too glamor oriented, with more focus on the private lives of celebrities rather than the business of the industry. Moreover, there is virtually no interactivity as the website does not even have a "contact us" link. Conversely, Planet Bollywood is perhaps the most interactive Bollywood website, allowing readers to vote for films while reading its reviews, and contribute to information through people's choice polls. The website is truly indicative of audience receptions to new films or industry affairs, nonetheless, it completely lacks in terms of design and navigability. Finally, two niche websites that really caught my attention were Upper Stall and Passion for Cinema. Upper Stall is perhaps the only website that provides an academic analysis of Indian films, with a special focus on classical Indian cinema as well as independent short films and documentaries that are largely ignored in the industry today. The site's visual design, as indicated by the graphic above, appropriately reflects its content and is professional and sophisticated, a stark contrast to most online Bollywood sources. Unlike Upper Stall which has limited interactivity, Passion for Cinema, the only blog I chose to add to my linkroll, has well written and thoroughly researched entries as well as critical analysis of films and events in the industry, maintained by revered writers and eminent Bollywood personalities. Despite being the only Bollywood blog of its kind, its structure and navigability has a lot to be desired. It is clear through my findings that there is a dearth of high quality Bollywood websites, not only by professionals but also by enthusiasts and scholars, perhaps because the web as a medium has not yet matured in India and has limited reach across the nation. Through my blog, I hope to personally contribute to the growth of current and relevant online resources on the Indian film industry.
graphics, the website offers current news, reviews and trailers, but also encompasses other mediums of communication such as news media and the music industry and the ways in which they relate to the Indian film industry. Screen also offers unique content in its updates on regional cinema and emphasis on the overall Indian entertainment business, from television to gaming. However, the website is text intensive, with no streaming videos and limited graphics and is difficult to navigate. On the other end of the spectrum, Bollywood World has a fantastic lay out and user- friendly structure along with multi- media forms of communication, but the website is far too glamor oriented, with more focus on the private lives of celebrities rather than the business of the industry. Moreover, there is virtually no interactivity as the website does not even have a "contact us" link. Conversely, Planet Bollywood is perhaps the most interactive Bollywood website, allowing readers to vote for films while reading its reviews, and contribute to information through people's choice polls. The website is truly indicative of audience receptions to new films or industry affairs, nonetheless, it completely lacks in terms of design and navigability. Finally, two niche websites that really caught my attention were Upper Stall and Passion for Cinema. Upper Stall is perhaps the only website that provides an academic analysis of Indian films, with a special focus on classical Indian cinema as well as independent short films and documentaries that are largely ignored in the industry today. The site's visual design, as indicated by the graphic above, appropriately reflects its content and is professional and sophisticated, a stark contrast to most online Bollywood sources. Unlike Upper Stall which has limited interactivity, Passion for Cinema, the only blog I chose to add to my linkroll, has well written and thoroughly researched entries as well as critical analysis of films and events in the industry, maintained by revered writers and eminent Bollywood personalities. Despite being the only Bollywood blog of its kind, its structure and navigability has a lot to be desired. It is clear through my findings that there is a dearth of high quality Bollywood websites, not only by professionals but also by enthusiasts and scholars, perhaps because the web as a medium has not yet matured in India and has limited reach across the nation. Through my blog, I hope to personally contribute to the growth of current and relevant online resources on the Indian film industry.
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