Shah Rukh Khan first Asian movie star with a global stardom.

Scientists have discovered the Indian film industry for themselves.
Shah Rukh Khan first Asian movie star with a global stardom.

Vienna. "Shah Rukh Khan is the perfect guy," Claus Tieber, theater, film and media researchers said at the Vienna Institute for Theatre Studies. Born in 1965 in New Delhi, Bollywood superstar in his role is uncertain enough to meet every taste. "He is handsome, toned, exotic and west at the same time, always sensitive, but also assertive."

In this respect, no wonder it has brought the charismatic actor in recent years the undisputed star in the Bollywood skies. From Thursday to Saturday it is the main theme of the interdisciplinary conference "Shah Rukh Khan and Global Bollywood?" the University of Vienna in the Vienna Museum of Ethnology.

But how did it happen that the Indian cinema, Which Operates under the term "Bollywood", which in Europe is Increasingly trailer? After all, film cameras were in India long before the Indian mainstream cinema in the 90s in Europe and the U.S. has spilled over. The 70 in the years to the film capital city ascended Bombay (now Mumbai), the special version of the Hindu commercial film awarded in allusion to the great rivals Hollywood's memorable name.

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"Since then go the products of the Indian film industry, annually Which Generates much more than Hollywood movies, traveling," says conference organizer Elke Mader, cultural and social anthropologist at the University of Vienna. The globalization of Indian cinema Hollywood had long since got serious competition. And who wants to try a comparison: Shah Rukh Khan has now produced at least three times as many films as Hollywood star Tom Cruise.

Hardcore fans of the Hindu films especially need a lot of time and the desire for "strong feelings". For Bollywood offers what you get in the west otherwise only in the opera. In the often up to three hours' Sleeping Beauty - is - the - prince - is danced and sung Reawaking stories so long until the male hero - and find the "princess" to each other - in most cases, Shah Rukh. The tests to have overcome the obstacles, the view of many scientists, a "cathartic effect" on the audience. This concept, Which means in German, "cleaning" goes back to Aristotle's notion of Greek tragedy: the audience would, the philosopher, purified through empathy with the fate of the hero of their own passions. What was once effected Achilles, now does Shah Rukh Khan.

The fans it's looking at the gaudy and melodramatic films of course, not Primarily for the purification of her soul. For her unspoken desires are important, those who think like scientists Tieber film, "responded to much more emotional level than most Hollywood films Thurs." The musical-like music sequences, Thereby additionally pressing on the tear glands.

Why complicate things?

The rather simple stories are Characterized by a marked contrast between good and evil and a clear moral at the end. Despite his own affinity for Indian cinema Hindu Tieber know that the consumption Unreflective Bollywood so has its downsides. Shah Rukh Khan's western clothes and his appearance should not obscure the fact modern Bollywood that ultimately support a very conservative view of society. Primarily this would be reflected in the stereotypical image of women. While the female characters three hours of waiting patiently for the wedding with her hero "may" be moving Shah Rukh's deeds the world.

In addition, poverty and socio-political grievances taboo for any Bollywood production. Just as the films deal with the Indian sub-layers so the fans are to be found there. Especially the middle class social climbers, the mixture of Western materialism and a return value to Indian values.

not a little controversial religious

An explosive detail: Bollywood with, however, a revival in Hindu traditions, its biggest star is a Muslim. While Shah Rukh Khan is in his films Hindu rituals at home, he rolls out his prayer mat facing Mecca. "In a country where a growing Hindu fundamentalism leads to incitement against Muslims, you should at least think about it," the scientists found Tieber.

Who investigates the background of the Bollywood film industry, is Thus quickly come to the contradictions of the poor countries of the world's transition to globalization. But Elke Mader and other researchers hope the Congress will not only use it to discuss the reception of films in India, even to think. Much more to the fan culture of the Indian communities abroad are investigated.

Because one thing has long been clear: Bollywood produces no longer just for their own country. Today it is mainly abroad that you want to retrieve from the consumption of several hours of fairy tales a bit of their homeland. What is of importance for each group, can then be quite different. "An Indian living in Trinidad, takes something quite different from the movies with than one who is as at home in London," said Elke Mader. In order to explore the European Bollywood fan culture and their intercultural impact better, to be established by the Congress, the network "Eurobolly.

The big star is absent

In addition to the plenary sessions workshops on the topics of "Reception and Fandom" will, "Song and Dance", "Gender, Religion and Film" and "Stardom and Globalisation" is offered. And the fans who otherwise meet only virtually on one of Shah Rukh Khan many fan sites, should have the opportunity to "network" itself. Thus many free film screenings, the exhibition is "Shah Rukh Khan fan culture" and a big Bollywood party type. Scholars and fans can show DJ Satish Gandhi Indian rhythms in local belt loop, as many dance steps they have already learned from Shah Rukh Khan. "Actually, missing only one guest," says Claus Tieber "The King of Bollywood himself"

Despite Numerous requests to the agency of the actor they had not managed to connect with Shah Rukh Khan. But who knows, maybe one or the other Austrian princess kissed awake by her prince so .. .

Source: http://www.wienerzeitung.at/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3906&Alias=wzo&cob=519964