Film opening sequences have been super interesting and evolved right along with cinema. In early Bollywood, films began much like those done around the world-much like these-in simple title cards showing the name of the film, the director and major cast. Just imagine that: a film opens with the title card, and everyone just sits there, waiting for something cool to happen, like waiting for your phone to connect to wi-fi! As cinema became popular, filmmakers started experimenting. They began using the power of music and striking visuals to set the mood for the story about to be unfolded.
THE 1900s
By the 1930s and 1940s, Bollywood was now developing complex leads. A lot of these involved musical introductions with considerable symbolic imagery-a kind of introduction to the film's core issues. With influences from early Indian theater and new techniques in filming, directors attempted to compose the moods for these sequences. Mughal-e-Azam, for instance, did not merely exhibit grandeur-it made the audience feel like princes with a soundtrack that could turn even a humble chapati into a feast!
Title sequences date back to way back in the history of cinema. It came with the devise of Thomas Edison's title card in 1897. The reason behind this was to protect Edison's films from piracy. In Bollywood, they were initially used for the very same reason; however, they were soon to be used to portray the power of the actor and director which was on a rise. It is by the 1950s that star power begins to inform these sequences, too, because Mother India by Mehboob Khan (1957) comes to be largely headed by important stars in the opening credits. You could almost hear the audience whispering, "Wah, kya baat hai!" as the legendary Nargis came onto the screen, instantly adding credibility to the film.
By the 1960s and 1970s, opening sequence had become the sine qua non of Bollywood storytelling. Directors like Guru Dutt and Raj Kapoor pioneered artistic use of visuals and powerful music that instantly electrified the viewers. One of the most iconic films for this kind of treatment was Sholay (1975), by Ramesh Sippy, which opened its film with a visually intense action sequence that put the audience literally on the edge of their seats. Who would forget Gabbar Singh's immortal line, "Kitne aadmi the?" The tension mixed with laughter made you excited and a bit scared all at the same time-something you might have experienced when you realize that an assignment was due some time back.
THE 2000s
Fast forward to present-day Bollywood, opening sequences have become a statement in themselves. Think the high-energy starts seen in more aggressively action-packed films like Dhoom 2 (2006), directed by Sanjay Gadhvi—where the action rife is so intense you just might get that funny feeling you just walked into an adrenaline rush—or the heartfelt beginnings of movies like Taare Zameen Par (2007), directed by Aamir Khan. Strive as filmmakers do to captivate the viewer from the very first frame. Taare Zameen Par starts with some whimsical visuals that take you into the world of a boy bearing the affliction of dyslexia. You only wish he had a teacher like Ram Shankar Nikumbh to make education a magical journey!
Now, the role of the director becomes much more blatant here with sequences where the filmmaking fraternity has been trying to stamp its creative vision from the very opening itself. Sanjay Leela Bhansali, known for his luxuriously dramatic and visually spectacular films, has made opening sequences into an artistic resolution. In Bajirao Mastani (2015), the film is marked by sweeping visuals and grand historical references that set the tone for the whole epic, and audiences get a glimpse of the fantastic narrative that follows.
Bollywood title sequences would eventually transform from merely being a string of credits in time. Creative directors began employing them as means to tell close-to-the-heart visual information concerning themes and the tone the movie would have. A good example of this creative elevation is Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham by Karan Johar in 2001, which used their opening sequence to introduce audiences to emotional depth and grandeur of characters and relationships. Sample dialogues such as "Keh diya na, bas keh diya"; it does set up family drama that will feel as relatable as your last family gathering—drama, tears, and snacks all included.
CONCLUSION
So, the history of film openings for Bollywood has traveled a long distance—from its basic title cards to rich, visually immersive experiences. They now act as a tool in the toolbox of the director, for engagements from the first second right through to the very last—to earn their identity and stamp into your mind, just like the catchy song that you can't get out of your head, even when you try!
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