What Happened to Indian Cinema?

I recently watched a new Bollywood film (you’ll find my short review at the end), and it really made me think about how much Indian cinema has changed over the years.

Back then, movies had soul—they focused on storytelling, emotions, and characters that felt real. Think about classics like Swades, Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai, or even Kal Ho Naa Ho. Those films stuck with you long after you watched them.

Too Many Remakes

These days, it feels like every other film is a remake—whether from South Indian hits or Hollywood. While some are okay, many lack the depth or impact of the originals. It’s like filmmakers are playing it safe instead of trying something new.

Women Still Not Getting Better Roles

Even now, in 2025, a lot of movies still show women as just glam additions to the screen. It's disappointing. We’ve had amazing female-led stories before—why can’t we get more of those now?

Copy-Paste Culture

From songs to stories to entire film vibes—Bollywood has started to feel like a mix of what’s trending globally. It’s cool to be inspired, but somewhere along the way, we’re losing the Indian-ness in our films.

Not Everything Is Bad

To be fair, there have been some really good films in recent years. Movies like 12th Fail, Andhadhun, and Article 15 show that good storytelling still exists. OTT platforms are also giving space to fresh and bold ideas.

Just Miss the Old Days

The drama, the music, the simplicity of older films had a charm that’s hard to find now. Maybe it’s nostalgia, but those stories felt more meaningful.

Check out my 60 second review on Housefull 5 in Youtube. Should you watch it? Click to find out.

👉 P.S. I’ve also shared a short review of the film within this blog itself, so you can catch both my written and video take. Click here.

From Classics to Copycats: Is Modern Indian Cinema Losing Its Soul?