Hindifilm

Hindifilm is a term used to refer to the Hindi-language film industry of India. Centered in Mumbai, it forms the core of what is popularly known as Bollywood, though Hindifilm can denote the broader spectrum of Hindi cinema produced for national and international audiences. The industry produces feature films in the Hindi language across a range of genres and uses a variety of distribution channels, including cinemas, television, and digital platforms.

Origin traces to the silent era of the early 20th century, with Dadasaheb Phalke's Raja Harishchandra (1913) often cited as the first full-length Indian feature. The transition to sound with Alam Ara (1931) established Hindi cinema's characteristic musical form. The postwar period saw a Golden Age of social dramas and romances, with influential filmmakers and stars shaping popular culture. From the 1960s to the 1980s, Hindifilm diversified into romance, action, and spectacle, while the 1990s and 2000s brought globalized production, big-budget spectacles, and the rise of multiplex audiences. In the 2010s and beyond, streaming platforms and global distribution broadened reach and altered production and marketing practices.

Today Hindifilm is a major cultural and economic force in India and among the Indian diaspora. It contributes significantly to music and fashion, exports content to international markets, and serves as a platform for social and political commentary. While widely popular, the industry faces ongoing discussions about representation, regional diversity, and labor practices, alongside ongoing innovation in storytelling, technology, and distribution.