We need more of these genres in 2024; Bollywood, are you listening?

As we step into a new year, here's a look back at all the movie genres that Bollywood has more or less ignored that we would like to watch more of.

Let's talk about Bollywood in 2023! It was action-packed, and while that's fun for many people, too much of the same thing gets old, right? Gadar 2, Pathaan, Jawan, Ganapath were all very violent. The Southification of Bollywood has mostly been in terms of violence and the fatigue is starting to register. While a genre cannot fully define how movies pan out, consistent usage of the same genre can be tiring. Moreover, it caters only to one type of audience. There are other genres and themes too like social issues, politics, religion, and spy thrillers among others. But as we step into 2024, the Bollywood lineup seems to be sticking to the same massy and violent trend. Maybe with the new year, we can mix things up and offer a variety of genres for the audience to enjoy!

Also Read: Bollywood's 2023 catalogue: Unveiling trendsetting themes that hooked audiences 

Here are some genres/ sub-genres we would like to see more of in 2024!

Comedy

It feels like forever since Bollywood treated us to a classic comedy. Remember the times of Priyadarshan, David Dhawan, Neeraj Vora, Anees Bazmee, and Farah Khan? They used to make us burst into laughter with their funny and quirky movies. Those were the days when 90s kids like me enjoyed hilarious films like Hungama, Malamal Weekly, Biwi No. 1, Main Hoon Na, Bhagam Bhag, and many more. But lately, there's been a shortage of comedy movies. The last one I can recall is Rohit Dhawan's 'Shehzada,' and it wasn't that great. Is it too much to ask for a good, old-fashioned comedy to bring back those laughs?

Romance

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is proof that the audience is willing to show up for romantic movies, especially the ones with a good dose of humour. Remember Yash Chopra's "Chandni," Aditya Chopra's 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge,' or Karan Johar's 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'? Even Farah Khan's 'Om Shanti Om' and Ashutosh Gowarikar's 'Jodha Akbar' were love stories that left us captivated. But where did these kinds of movies go? Sure, we still see romance in Bollywood movies, but the classic, heartwarming love stories seem to be missing. And, honestly, no Bollywood film feels complete without that quintessential romance. 

Horror

Bollywood hasn't really delved deep into the horror genre. We've seen some great horror films like Tumbbad, Bulbbul, Darna Mana Hai, Bhooth, and others in India. Even spooky movies with kids like Makdee and Bhoothnath bring back nostalgic feelings. Many folks in India love Hollywood horror films like The Conjuring, Insidious, The Exorcist, and more. So, why not tap into our own potential and create some awesome horror movies right here in India?

Science fiction

I understand that science fiction is a niche topic and has a limited fanbase. Filmmakers sometimes hesitate to include complex science in movies fearing that audiences might not get it. But look at India – we have fans of Christopher Nolan and Breaking Bad, a series with a strong focus on chemistry, was a hit here too. So, what's holding us back from diving into this genre more? The best we got was the Krrish series and Cargo. We can really let our creativity loose and explore the world of science fiction more in Indian cinema.

Psychological thrillers

The world of psychological thrillers is fascinating yet it's been relatively uncharted in Indian cinema. The ones that come to mind are Karthik Calling Karthik, Talaash, No Smoking, Kahaani, Ek Hasina Thi, and Cyrus. We could definitely use more of these creative and mind-bending movies this year.

Animation

Lastly, it feels like animated movies are kind of missing from the mainstream scene. We remember the awesome Hanuman movie from our childhood and those cool cartoon shows. But why do we have just a few animated movies? What is holding us back from making more animated movies that use animation creatively and imaginatively? What kind of cinema are we offering to our kids? And how about animated movies that everyone, not just kids, can enjoy? India's showing love for Anime, and it'd be great to see more animated creativity in our own movies too. 

What kind of movies are you looking forward to watching? Tell us in the comments below!

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