india week

There is a strong history of dance in Indian tradition. For centuries dancing has played an important role in celebrations and religious festivals in India. However, it wasn't until the twentieth century and the advent of cinema that it was shown to the world. 

A Tradition of Dance

It was the Indian film industry and ‘Bollywood' which suddenly put dance on the big screen. Song and dance are both absolutely integral to Indian cinema (far more so than anywhere else in the world) and this is shown off on a global scale, with Bollywood now the largest film producers in the world. Over 1,000 feature films are produced every year with an ever-increasing international appeal from Asian audiences residing in the UK and US.

Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is the birthplace of Indian film and much of the present day mass marketing of Hindi language films still comes out of this entertainment hub. Over the years Mumbai has produced larger than life stars such as Amitabh Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty.

It was these stars roles in Indian musical films that made them the celebrities they are today. The melodrama of the script is interwoven with song and dance that usually consists of romantic love songs and complex dance routines.

As part of India Week, we are trying a different Indian dish for lunch every day this week. Each day we will be eating something from the menu at Masala Zone and will be reviewing it for you. Today's dish is butter chicken curry.

After yesterday's mammoth meal, we were expecting good things on Day Two of our culinary adventure in to Indian cuisine. On the menu today was butter chicken curry (as modelled in our very arty photo above), and it certainly didn't disappoint.

For £8.70 you can get India's version of chicken tikka masala, with a sauce of tomatoes, butter (unsurprisingly) and a top-secret blend of spices. Add in generous helpings of chicken and rice, and you've got yourself a lovely little meal.

As part of India Week we interviewed the brilliant comedian Inder Manocha about his heritage and how he got in to stand-up:

Tell us about your Indian and British heritage?

My parents are from India, although my mother's background is Iranian. I was born in London and have been to India once, to visit the Baha'i Lotus Temple in New Delhi. I have inherited more 'Indianness' than I probably realise. Even though I don't speak any of the languages, I feel very Indian sometimes: my views on family, the way I can express myself, my mannerisms. But I can also be very English.

What was it like being a student at Oxford University?

This was Oxford in the late 80s. I was one of very few ethnic minority students. In fact I was a bit exotic. I went back recently to do a show and it was very different. Oxford was fine but a bit of a museum. A very traditional approach to my course (I studied modern history). I did a few plays and loved that. That kept me going.

How did you get into the world of comedy and acting?

For India Week we are focusing on Indian Entertainment, Music and Film today. It is impossible to look at such a topic without looking at Bollywood. Bollywood IS Indian entertainment in many aspects. So if you don't know too much about India's Hollywood, then here is a short introduction for you.

History and Style

Bollywood is basically the informal name for the Hindi Film Industry based in Mumbai, which is one of the largest centres of film production in the world. Although it is the largest in India, it is only part of the total Indian film industry, despite the term Bollywood often incorrectly referring to the whole of Indian cinema.

It all started way back in 1913 with the first silent feature film made in India, called Raja Harishchandra. Over the next twenty years the Indian film industry grew so quickly that by the 1930s, the country was producing over 200 films a year. It was in 1931 when Alam Ara became the first Indian film with sound, but not until the late 1950s when films started to regularly be made in colour.

As part of our focus on food today for India Week, restaurant chain Masala Zone describe authentic Indian street food and its ingredients.

One of India's culinary glories is its comforting, seductive street food which offers a myriad of flavours. Almost every street corner is lined with mobile food vendors (restaurants-on-wheels) selling sumptuous snack delicacies. It is a way of life for people of all income groups, who relish the irresistible and rich tapestry of flavours, these snacks have to offer. Every busy street in India usually has rows of street food hawkers cooking and selling these delectable delicacies before your eyes. Indian street food is mouth-watering. These dishes are cooked in the open with aromas that fire the appetite and awaken the senses.

MW Eat has been a pioneer in bringing an array of delectable Indian street food to London. These can be eaten either as a starter, or as grazing food. These street food dishes are prepared in Masala Zone's open dispense kitchen in full view of customers. Although not quite the same as being on the streets of India, this can still leave a memorable impression.