 |
Mumbai is big and new, where Delhi is older and dustier. As the film capitol, Hollywood has come calling here, too, especially since Bollywood's "Slumdog Millionaire" won the Oscar for best picture in 2010. |
Mumbai is the new India.
It seems there's a new business, a new high rise, a new apartment, or a new road on almost every block, or at least in every district. It's a little bigger than Delhi at nearly 18 million in population, about twice the size of New York City. It's hot and humid and lush, located south of the Tropic of Cancer on the Arabian Sea and flush against tall hills which hold back the rain clouds from getting to the hot, dry interior.
 |
From high rises in the distance to new roads in the foreground, the view from my hotel room tells the story of Mumbai in the 21st century. |
 |
Since the Arabian Sea would flood a subway system, Mumbai is building a monorail mass-transit system instead. |
There are jobs in tech, in finance and in entertainment. Mumbai is the home of Bollywood, the center of the Indian film industry, which makes more movies, title for title, than Hollywood, California, USA.
With the breakout Oscar-winning success of "Slumdog Millionaire" two years ago, Bollywood is on the map.
"We've been big for a long time, and now we're the best," said a proud Jagmohan Singh Kundan, general manager of operations at the Whistling Woods Film School, a private film school founded a decade ago as a training ground for cinematographers, editors, producers and actors.
Whistling Woods, located in Filmland, an area of deserts, forests, towns and temples set aside as a back lot to serve as settings for Bollywood movies, offers short, specialized programs for students worldwide, and a two-year post-baccalureate in filmmaking, producing, acting and other specialties. Kundun offered to serve as a host for subsequent student trips for Arkansas State.
 |
Whistling Woods animation students work on an illustration in fine detail. |
See more about Whistling Woods at:
Tomorrow, we visit more of the city, and visit the ancient Elephanta Caves, off the coast.
No comments:
Post a Comment