From Bollywood to Tollywood
Some of the many brands of Indian cinema explained
Bollywood (Hindi)
Taking its name from the city in which its movies are produced, Bombay (now Mumbai), Bollywood produces films in the Hindi language and is the largest segment of the Indian film industry. It accounts for nearly half of film production today.
Pollywood (Punjabi)
The name used for films produced in Punjabi, Pollywood stretches across India and Pakistan and can trace its roots back as far as 1935. It’s grown into an even bigger portion of the industry in recent years, with increasing budgets and star power.
Chhollywood (Chhattisgarhi)
Based out of the Chhattisgarh region in Central India, the film industry began here around 1965 but didn’t take off for some time. The local industry has grown in strength since the Chhattisgarh state was created in November 2000.
Tollywood (Bengali or Telugu)
The term Tollywood can refer to films in Bengali or Telugu. The Telugu industry can trace its roots back to the silent-film era, while Bengali cinema got started not long after and enjoyed its golden era in the 1950s and 1960s.
Jollywood (Assamese)
Credited with producing one of the most groundbreaking films of Indian cinema, Assamese-language films can claim the 1935 movie Joymoti as among its biggest releases. Like much of the industry, it found a second wind in the 1950s.
Sandalwood (Kannada)
With its first silent film released in 1931, movies in the Kannada language go back a long way into Indian cinema history, although its first colour film was not released until 1964. Still, it’s credited with some of India’s most celebrated cinematic works.