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The roots of Bollywood entertainment lie in Parsi theatre and mythological epics like Phalke’s Raja Harishchandra (1913). Early sound films, such as Alam Ara (1931), introduced song as a narrative necessity. In the post-independence era (late 1940s–1950s), filmmakers like Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt used entertainment to address social realism. Kapoor’s Awara (1951) merged Chaplinesque comedy with socialist critique, using the dream sequence and the song "Awara Hoon" to express existential angst. Here, entertainment served a dual purpose: distraction from poverty and a coded language for political dissent.

Economic liberalization in 1991 coincided with the rise of the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) as the target audience. Films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) redefined entertainment as glossy, globalized, and family-oriented. The village gave way to Swiss Alps and London cafes. Entertainment became about the fantasy of a "pure" Indian culture preserved abroad, using lavish sets and designer costumes. The song "Tum Hi Ho" from Aashiqui 2 (2013) exemplifies this era’s focus on romantic melancholy as high entertainment. masaladesi net