The Rise Of Bollywood In Soviet Union

As part of his efforts to promote Indian culture, Jawaharlal Nehru invited Soviet delegations to India and arranged for Bollywood films to be shown in the Soviet Union. These movies would either hold subtitles for the Soviet crowd or be completely dubbed. Through these efforts, Nehru helped introduce Bollywood to Soviet audiences and lay the foundation for its eventual popularity in the country.
Between 1954 and 1991, more than 200 Indian films were imported into the Soviet Union, in stark contrast to the mere 41 imported from the US. Nimai Ghosh's Chhinnamul was the first Indian film to be released in the USSR, but it was Raj Kapoor's Chaplinesque roles that truly resonated with the Soviet audience.
His performance in Awaara was particularly well-received, scoring second place in the highest-grossing foreign films, Mithun Chakraborty’s Disco Dancer being the first. Also, the visual spectacle of Bollywood films and their use of vibrant colours created an atmosphere that was appealing to the audiences in the Soviet Union. The values of Indian society have long been intertwined with those of the USSR, with a clear distinction between good and evil and a strong belief in the power of rags-to-riches stories.
This enduring optimism, which is a hallmark of Socialist realist utopianism, has been a source of inspiration for many in India and the USSR alike. Bollywood movies were also in stark contrast to the bleak and severe films that dominated Soviet cinema at the time, which often featured heavy political themes and strict censorship.
In addition to promoting Bollywood films, Nehru also sought to foster cultural exchange between India and the Soviet Union. This cultural interaction included the exchange of films, books, and other forms of media. Despite the popularity of Bollywood films in the Soviet Union, the Soviet government was often wary of their influence and sought to limit their distribution.
However, Bollywood films continued to be popular in underground circles, passing from hand to hand in the form of bootlegged VHS tapes.
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