Mumbai is a great city in uncountable ways. Apart from other names like Bombai, Bambai etc, the city has many nicknames too. One of those is “Mayanagri”. The concept of Maya is very difficult to translate into English but let’s take it as an illusion.
Why is Mumbai called Mayanagri? Many reasons but the most prominent among them is related to films. Many of the greatest films in the world have been shot in Mumbai and it has given Hindi cinema its name Bollywood from Bombay.
But lately, we are seeing some changes.
Hindi cinema is no longer limited to the studios and streets of Mumbai. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a shift, with more and more films being shot in places like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and more. This decentralization of the industry is a great sign for both filmmakers and local economies. The recent meeting between Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary of Tourism and Culture in Madhya Pradesh, only reinforces this trend.
They discussed how to make film production easier by merging a central film portal with Madhya Pradesh’s own online system for film permissions. This move will not only simplify the process but also encourage filmmakers to explore newer regions. After all, shooting in different states like MP, UP, and Uttarakhand has already led to some beautiful and unique backdrops in recent films.
What’s even more interesting is the idea of building more theatres in small towns. This means that films shot locally will also get screened locally, allowing audiences outside big cities to enjoy a first-hand experience of cinema. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
This step is actually great for the health of Bollywood because they will step out of their comfort zone of Andheri and look at so many stories just waiting to be told.
This decentralization is proof that Bollywood is no longer just a Mumbai affair—it’s India’s cinema in the truest sense. But, Bollywood owes to Mumbai more than any other city. While Hindi cinema continues to expand, there will never be one city more special than Mumbai for Hindi Cinema. That’s why we say Bambai Meri Jaan.
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