The Business of Indian Films
Not One Industry but Many
How India's film output is spread across Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi and other industries, and why regional cinema has grown in economic weight.
India makes more films than almost any other country, often well over 1,500 certified feature films a year. But there is no single “Indian film industry”.
Many language industries
- Hindi (often called Bollywood), based in Mumbai.
- Telugu (Tollywood), based in Hyderabad.
- Tamil (Kollywood), based in Chennai.
- Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati and more.
Shifting weight
For years, Hindi films earned the largest share of box office. In recent years, South Indian films, especially Telugu and Tamil, have often matched or exceeded Hindi films in total box-office collections.
Why regional industries thrive
- Loyal audiences in their language.
- Star power with devoted fan bases.
- Lower ticket prices and many theatres in southern states.
- Strong single-screen culture.
Different economics
- Malayalam films are often made on small budgets and rely on strong scripts.
- Telugu films can have huge budgets and big-star spectacles.
On a single Friday, a Telugu action film, a Malayalam thriller, a Hindi drama and a Marathi comedy may all release, each aiming at a different audience.
India has many film industries, with regional cinema now a major force.
- India certifies well over 1,500 feature films a year.
- Films are made in many languages, each with its own industry.
- South Indian cinema has grown in box-office weight.
- Budgets and business models differ across industries.
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