การสื่อสารอัตลักษณ์และนาฏยศิลป์ในภาพยนตร์บอลลีวู้ดแนวนอกถิ่นอินเดีย

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate relationship between film narrative, dancing arts and the identity of Indian Diasporas in eight Non-Resident Indian films; Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007) Dostana (2008) New York (2009) and My Name is Khan (2010) by means of performance analysis and document research. It also seeks to understand the audience's reception of the film through focus-group interview with 20 Indian and Pakistani Diasporas in Thailand. The research found out that:

1. The narrative of the films usually involves the story of love and family relationship. The main theme as well as conflict usually point to cultural differences between India and the West. The Non-Resident Indian characters often lead a well-balanced lifestyle of Western modernity and Indian tradition. When the characters encounter any kind of personal crisis, however, they will seek their way out of the problem in traditional Indian values.


2. Dancing arts and the music in Bollywood's Non-Resident Indian films are referred to as Bollywood dance and Filmi-Indi pop music. They are mixtures of Indian classical songs and dances, folk performances and songs and dances from other cultures. They are used for various purposes in storytelling such as presentation of character's senses or main theme in film, etc.


3. The audience of different age group holds different attitude and aesthetic reception towards the films. The audience who is of 40 years old and above age group expressed their dislike towards the dancing arts and Non-Resident Indian films in general, giving the reason that these films are too westernized for their liking. By contrast, the audience of 20-38 years old age group like these film and found the genre interesting. Both groups of the audience agree that song and dance sequence is very important in the narrative of Indian film, and it helps the audience to identify with the emotion and thought of the characters. They also states that star quality is a major influence their choice of film.