The Violin Player (2015) is a rewarding cinematic experience from India, crafted by writer/director Bauddhayan Mukherji. It's a slow moving yet engaging and captivating story about what it means to be a true artist, and how artistic endeavour helps to align our moral compass towards the spectrum of compassion and humility. Mukerji delivers a story that takes us through the dynamics of personal and professional relationships as it relates to infidelity, necessity, fulfillment and forgiveness. The film is driven by Tollywood's (Bengali Cinema) Ritwick Chakraborty, who pulls the viewer into the story with a masterful performance that engages from beginning till end. The movie also co-stars Nayani Dixit and Adil Hussain who, along with Ritwick, intrigues the viewer without utilizing much dialogue. Hussain has recently received global critical acclaim for his performance in Leena Yadav's Parched, alongside Radhika Apte. The Violin Player is currently streaming on Netflix Stateside.-pep boy.

 “Is Bollywood a country?” replied Kangana Ranaut in response to a question asked at a Mumbai press conference about who she believes is the queen of Bollywood. Commercial Hindi cinema, unfairly termed by us in the west as Bollywood, may not be a country, but if it was, Kangana Ranaut has proven that she deserves to wear the crown as its queen. Kangana’s extensive talent, versatility, determination, diverse body of work, and her unlikely path to becoming the heroine of the multiplex, have made her the most interesting, individualistic and inspirational actress to emerge amidst the Mumbai metropolis of celluloid fantasies in a very long time. A long awaited and overdue emergence in Hindi Cinema which, in time, will be evocative of two of India’s most prolific and eclectic actresses, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil.

Although Kangana’s fans and critics would love for her to be crowned, unlike her B-Town (Bollywood) counterparts, it is an accolade she would never accept. Kangana Ranaut doesn’t relish and dwell on the attention that comes with fame; her focus is more geared towards what she does as an artist and how she goes about doing it.

INSIDE AND OUT
Like Hollywood, the B-Town film fraternity is a nepotistic circle of filmy family and friends plus the company and contacts (FFFCC) they keep. Unlike Hollywood, nepotism in Indian Cinema isn’t necessarily frowned upon. It is an openly discussed secret, but it is accepted that in Mumbai’s film business nepotism without talent is futile, and many star kids, who shall remain nameless, have proven this point over and over again. Those outside the circle may be granted a pass in if:

(A) They are a beauty pageant winner or contestant
(B) They are a fashion model
(C) They have 'fair enough' acting ability with a 'fair' chance to prove themselves
(D) They possess great talent and preparation no matter who they are

For Kangana Ranaut it is points B and D, with aspects of the innuendo of point C.  However, Ranaut’s road to B-Town was an unplanned and unforeseen foray into the spotlight. An outsiders pass into the inner circle of the FFFCC which she never set out to achieve.

BHAMBLA. DELHI. MUMBAI
Relying on her inner strength, instinct, self-proclaimed rebellious spirit and her determination never to succumb to conventional roles expected of women in society, the small town girl who dared to dream, left her home in Bhambla, at the age of 16, for Delhi to find her own path. Kangana would eventually sign as a model with Elite Model Management, but the path she was destined to take became more evident when she joined the Delhi based Asmita Theatre Group, under the tutelage and brilliance of renowned Theatre Director, Arvind Gaur.  Being on the pulse of provocative and socially relevant theatre with an impact, Gaur’s theatrical themes tackle social and political issues that pervade human existence and expression, similar to the subtexts prevalent in what is referred to in India as parallel cinema (independent or art house), the genre in which Azmi, Patil and the incomparable Naseeruddin Shah have extracted some of their most profound film roles.

Arvind was impressed by Kangana’s commitment to her craft, and her uncanny ability to “get into the skin of the character”. Kangana sharpened her innate talent for acting with Asmita for nine months, and the alignment between the young, unconventional and independent minded Ranaut and the acting process of Gaur’s theatre group created a symbiosis that would prove to be beneficial towards her approach in future film roles.  Though Kangana had no intention of being an actress in films, nor Arvind an aficionado of mainstream cinema, circumstances would later prompt him to advise her to consider acting in motion pictures. Kangana relocated to Mumbai to continue her studies as an actress.

THE MOULD-BREAKERS
To better understand how timing played a crucial role in shaping Kangana’s success, one has to take into account the following story:

Dil Chahta Hai spoke to India’s young urbanites, an audience not specifically catered to by filmmakers at the time. After its success, subsequent films such as Rock On!, Rang De Basanti, Dev-D, Wake Up Sid, and Delhi Belly found an audience with India’s young, urban and trendy, and they demanded more. Dil Chahta Hai commanded an urban following but Lagaan connected and appealed to all levels of Indian society. Lagaan’s plot intertwined love, caste differences, and triumph over the angst of British colonialism amidst the backdrop of the social glue of cricket without compromising on the feel-good factor expected from the cinema halls. Like Bollywood itself, Lagaan delivered a high level of escapism to cinema goers worldwide. It was a tour de force in Hindi cinema that established a new standard in the production values of filmmaking. Dil Chahta Hai and Lagaan helped to usher in a new era of Bollywood, and changed the ways in which movies were being made and perceived in B-Town.

Bollywood was changing. New approaches were taking place. Films were no longer expected to look, feel and sound the same.  As the Indian economy improved, and the middle class expanded, new market segments and production values began to dictate how films were being made and who they were made for. Viewing patterns were shifting, and though the formulaic mould wasn’t gone all together (nor does it have to), there were new ideas and breakthrough moments in commercial Hindi cinema shining through year after year. Farhan Akhtar remained an influential driving force behind many of those breakthroughs as actor, producer and director.

Sensitive topics such as sexual identity, AIDS and child sex abuses were being noted on screen: My Brother…Nikhil, Page 3, Bombay Talkies. Great biopics came to the forefront:  Paan Singh Tomar, Milkha Singh (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag) and Shahid Azmi (Shahid). Cinematic gems such as Parineeta, Johnny Gaddaar, 3 Idiots, Karthik Calling Karthik, Udaan, Shor in the City, Peepli [Live], Band Baaja Baaraat, Lootera, The Lunchbox, Ship of Theseus, Ugly and Masaan are being produced. Male-driven roles are being redefined by the formidable creativity exerted by Irrfan Khan and Ronit Roy. Assertive female-driven scripts are being written and performed by great actresses who are breaking the myth that only male-driven films are successful with critics and audiences: Rani Mukerji in Black, Konkona Sen Sharma in 15 Park Avenue (English), Sridevi in English Vinglish, Vidya Balan in Kahaani, Anushka Sharma in NH10….

The FFFCC star system “somewhat” give way as B-Town becomes an equal opportunity hero and heroine employer of sorts. The creative input of outsiders like Irrfan, Anushka Sharma, Rajkumar Rao, and one of Bollywood’s most intriguing success story, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, is proof of the positive and necessary influence of the outsider effect which is helping to create a shift in commercial Hindi cinema. A paradigm shift that brought with it innovative directors and ideas in filmmaking, and a revision of the hero-heroine archetype that has set the stage for the quintessential commercial heroine mould-breaker, Kangana Ranaut, to debut.

FADE IN: KANGANA RANAUT
Anurag Basu’s Gangster (2006) was the cinematic vehicle that launched Kangana’s acting career on screen. The film was produced and written by Mahesh Bhatt, the legendary godfather genius of parallel cinema, who wrote and directed the masterpiece that is Arth (1982), starring Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil. With Bhatt and Basu, Kangana was in good hands and good company with her co-stars Emraan Hashmi and Shiney Ahuja.

In Gangster, Kangana fearlessly assumed the role of Simran, an alcoholic with two lovers. We see Simran scantily clad in various scenes, and indulging in an on-screen kiss which was a major taboo in Indian cinema. It’s the type of role any actress in B-town would shy away from. Gangster’s gritty formula was not expected to be a part of any serious Bollywood actress’s repertoire, but Kangana began to break the mould of expectation. It was an unconventional role in an unconventional film with an unconventional actress which created a good cinematic marriage. Kangana, Basu and Bhatt took a risk and the risk paid off. Though her acting wasn’t perfect, Kangana won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

Kangana’s next release was Mohit Suri’s Woh Lahme (2006) where she played yet another character of unconventional ways and means, Sana Azim, supposedly based on the life of actress Parveen Babi.  Also produced by Mahesh Bhatt, and back together again with Shiney Ahuja as co-star, we saw Kangana depict a character coping with schizophrenia. Kangana leveraged both grit and glamor and delivered a convincing performance which was a bit restrained at times, but the charismatic energy between her and Ahuja made for great viewing. Kangana once again teased the Central Board of Film Certification with an on-screen kiss.

Kangana seemed more comfortable in her on-screen avatar when we saw her again amidst an ensemble cast in Life in a…Metro (2007). Maybe working once more with Anurag Basu, who directed the film, helped to put her at ease. Kangana began to exude maturity and confidence in playing her character choices which became more evident each time we saw her in the talkies.

MAKING HER MARK
The plotline of the 2008 film, Fashion, directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, reads as though it was made especially for Kangana: small town girl leaves home and family, moves to the big city, and hones in on fame by means of the fashion industry. However, the narrative was driven by former Miss World winner, Priyanka Chopra, with Kangana playing the supporting role of Shonali, a substance abusing model whose career ends up becoming quite dismal. Kangana’s performance was applauded by critics, though there were numerous gestures about her again being typecast as a neurotic character. Fashion allowed Kangana her first National Award for Best Supporting Actress. 

My preferred choice of entertainment during long-haul flights from New York to India are Indian films and content, and in 2011, en route across the Atlantic, I was greeted with a treat: Anand Rai’s Tanu Weds Manu, in which Kangana played the character Tanu. In watching Kangana’s affinity with camera, cast and craft, I had the sense that her presence in B-Town will have a lasting and influential impact. Kangana’s portrayal of Tanu pinpointed to me that unlike her previous roles, this time she’s not just an actress who’s acting, she’s now in sync with the art of film.

Introduced in Gangster, creating a noteworthy imprint in Fashion, and already sharing screen space with mega-weights like Ajay Devgan, Anil Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan, Filmfare and National Award winning Kangana Ranaut continued her stride in Bollywood by establishing herself in the industry where she deservedly belongs. Unfortunately, like all actors who choose the film business as a profession, her choices of films after Tanu Weds Manu were a mixed bag of critical and commercial disappointments with some hits, neither of which allowed her to stand in her own light. Then came Queen, her shining moment.

….QUEEN
Let’s talk about Vikas Bahl’s Queen (2014). Fashion may have been the film that was made for Kangana, but it is the character of Rani in Queen that she was born to play. In Queen, Kangana reigns supreme. It is her definitive mark in a definitive film. Bollywood’s Amelie moment. The movie is rare, well-crafted and internationally appealing from beginning to end without plateauing or failing to hold the audience’s attention. Expertly utilizing a multi-ethnic cast in an international setting without the usual Bollywood cliché of recreating an Indian town in Europe where everyone miraculously speak Hindi. Queen isn’t just a film; it is a transformative and shared experience between viewer and screen, driven by a female lead.

Kangana’s performance carries the film beautifully. Her portrayal of Rani frames our attention as we first see her at a fork in the road of broken dreams catalyzed by Vijay, played by Rajkumar Rao. Her ability to convey feeling in order to emotionally connect with the audience by using facial expression and body language to depict abandonment, loneliness, incognizance, fear, intoxication and euphoria throughout the film is uncanny.  Her comedic timing is good. Changing the tone of her voice to reflect Rani’s state of being helpless, almost voiceless, at the beginning of the film to being outspoken and opinionated as the film progresses, is an effective use of her tools of craft. Her acting flows flawlessly, uncontrived, unbridled, and not for one moment losing sight of who and where Rani was and is throughout her metamorphosis.  Kangana is completely in the skin of the character.

Kangana’s Rani invites us on a journey we are willing to take with her from the very beginning because we can all identify with the universally relatable story scripted by Anvita Dutt Guptan and Vikas himself. “Rani” is in all of us. We root for “Rani”. We want to see “Rani” win. The writing, directing and acting convinces us to like her.  The critics like Kangana’s Rani as well. Indian cinema expert Anupama Chopra stated, “Queen is proof that talent trumps any image an actor has.” Kangana garnered the National, Filmfare and IIFA awards for Best Actress for her contribution to Queen.

Let’s not talk about Revolver Rani (2014). A film which, on paper, was perched to be an instant cult classic, but in execution it just did not tie in well. It is worth noting that Kangana’s performance in the film did deliver a big punch in originality. She even darkened her skin with make-up for the role, which in the B-Town film industry and in a country known for its “enlightenment”, to be darker tone in skin color, regrettably, is a cardinal sin.

RAISING THE BAR
The commercial and critical success of Tanu Weds Manu allowed for its 2015 sequel Tanu Weds Manu Returns:  one of the year’s most anticipated film release and major blockbuster hit, one of the most viewed and liked film trailers ever (which went viral), and one of India’s most successful film franchises. The film’s success is in part due to the fact that it is a good movie, and also largely on Kangana’s trajectory in popularity, likeability and demand since the 2011 prequel. In the film, Kangana played a dual role of both Tanu and Datto. In a promotional interview, Kangana’s TWMR  co-star, R Madhavan, stated,

“

…Kangana has really raised the bar of the level of involvement and performance required in the industry…she has set the standard so high, that now you have to be an ‘actor’. Just merely knowing your lines is not going to be enough.

                                              ”

INSPIRATIONAL
How does one describe Kangana Ranaut?

GoodActressMould-Breaker
                                                                   DifferentIndividualisticDaring
                    ConfidentOUTSIDERFASHIONABLE
BOLDIncomparable
                                                  UNIQUE
heroineQueenopinionated

When all is said and done about Kangana’s success and what people might think of her, it is her backstory that gives us the most important description of all: relatable. Her relatability contributes to the adoration the public, critics, fans and cinema-goers have for her. In Kangana’s backstory we have the common man, the outsider, the small-towner as hero-heroine who proves that anyone from anywhere can be a part of the illusionary world of make-believe. Her story not only gives hope to thousands who embark upon the casting offices of B-Town each year to become the next Salman and Kareena, but also to anyone with the hope of achieving a goal.  The story of “You can get it if you really want, but you must try, try and try, you’ll succeed at last." Kangana’s reality adds some truth to that story, yet for many, that story will remain an illusion.

Kangana represents the victory over the elusive and unattainable, quite literally the people’s queen of an illusionary world. In a strange way, for many, Kangana’s story fuels their hopes. Though in reality, Kangana’s advice might be to find the fuel within yourself.  She found that fuel within herself when she arrived in Mumbai as a teenager not knowing anyone in the film business, or even a word of English in an industry where speaking English is as important as acting itself.  

Relatability, outside of a role, is the best award an actor can ever achieve in the film business. It is the best reward given to their fans. In Bollywood, at the moment, no actor is more deserving of such an award than Kangana Ranaut and of course Nawazuddin Siddiqui. For different reasons, the great Smita Patil also encompassed that relatability factor.

TO BE CONTINUED…
I, personally, would describe Kangana Ranaut as smart. She is very aware that she is a part of a fickle business where anything regarding her career can change at any given minute. It’s an industry that lacks women behind the camera and good female-centric roles and themes on-screen.  Commenting to Anupama Chopra in the Film Companion series interview, Kangana stated, “If I don’t get opportunities, I will create opportunities for myself.”  Within the line of Zoya Akhtar, Farah Khan, Ekta Kapoor and of course Mira Nair, Kangana, I believe, will eventually become an integral decision maker behind the scenes. Unlike most actors or actresses in film, Kangana is unique in that she immerses herself in the entire filmmaking process as writer, director and actor. In 2011 she wrote and directed a short film called The Touch, and in 2014 she enrolled in a screenwriting course at The New York Film Academy. She is thinking ahead.

Although the era of Shyam Benegal’s Ankur (1974) and Manthan (1976) has passed, like Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil, whose level of involvement and artistic output in Indian films are indisputable and unchallenged, Kangana Ranuat has raised and set a new level of expectation in the industry. There will never be another Shabana-Ji or Smita-Ji, yet it’s refreshing to know that there are still actresses, such as Kangana, who has the right gearing, individuality, spontaneity and talent to maneuver the subtleties of parallel cinema which provokes, and mainstream cinema which entertains; to dance between the craft of art and the crore of commerce.

Kangana’s next film release is Nikhil Advani’s Katti Batti, a romantic comedy co-starring the uniquely impressive Imran Khan--a great pairing. The release date is set for September 18th.  Yet to be confirmed, there are talks of Kangana playing one of yesteryear’s greatest, Meena Kumari, in a future biopic.

Meena Kumari’s Pakeezah (1972), is the film that cemented my interest in the world of Indian Cinema.-pep boy

Let’s talk about Vikas Bahl’s Queen (2014). Fashion may be the film that was made for Kangana Ranaut, but it is the character of Rani in Queen that she was born to play. In Queen, Kangana reigns supreme. It is her definitive mark in a definitive film. Bollywood’s Amelie moment. The movie is rare, well-crafted and internationally appealing from beginning to end without plateauing or failing to hold the audience’s attention. Expertly utilizing a multi-ethnic cast in an international setting without the usual Bollywood cliché of recreating an Indian Town in the middle of Europe where everyone miraculously speak Hindi. Queen isn’t just a film; it is a transformative and shared experience between viewer and screen, driven by a female lead.

Kangana’s performance carries the film beautifully. Her portrayal of Rani frames our attention as we first see her at a fork in the road of broken dreams catalyzed by Vijay, played by Rajkumar Rao. Her ability to convey feeling in order to emotionally connect with the audience by using facial expression and body language to depict abandonment, loneliness, incognizance, fear, intoxication and euphoria throughout the film is uncanny. Her comedic timing is good. Changing the tone of her voice to reflect Rani’s state of being helpless, almost voiceless, at the beginning of the film to being outspoken and opinionated as the film progresses is an effective use of her tools of craft. Her acting flows flawlessly, uncontrived, unbridled, and not for one moment losing sight of who and where Rani was and is throughout her metamorphosis.  Kangana is completely in the skin of the character.

Vikas’s Queen and Kangana’s Rani invites us on a journey we are willing to take with them from the very beginning because we can all identify with the universally relatable story scripted by Anvita Dutt Guptan and Vikas himself. “Rani” is in all of us. You’ll root for “Rani”. You’ll want to see “Rani” win. The writing, directing and acting convince us to like both her and the film.  The multi-national supporting casts will make you love the film even more. -pep boy

Beloved Hindi Cinema actress -turned-politician, Kirron Kher, has defeated rival candidate Pawan Kumar Bansal to win the Chandigarh Lok Sabha (lower house of the Parliament of India) seat in the general elections on Friday.  Kher, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), defeated Pawan by 69,642 votes.  

Kirron, 61, who joined the BJP in 2009, decided to contest the elections for the first time in March, after previous reluctance to do so. She follows a notable list of actresses in India who have ventured into politics, such as current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa Jayaram and parallel (independent) cinema icon, Shabana Azmi.

Kher has starred and appeared in over 30 films ranging from Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali and Malayalam cinema, and has worked with legendary director Shyam Benegal. Kirron can be seen in the film Punjab 1984, directed by Anurag Singh, to be released this summer, but if you can’t wait, just grab a copy of Dostana or the 2002 remake of Devdas which she is absolutely fantastic in. -pep boy

Never since Trainspotting has there been a more intrusive and meticulous depiction of Britain's marginalized urban youth culture as there is in Director Sally El Hosaini's film, My Brother the Devil (2012). A tale of two brothers from an immigrant family, Rashid and his younger brother Mo, sway on the pendulum of the cause-and-effect realities of London city's council estates (low income housing). Through tragedy, Rashid, portrayed by newcomer James Floyd, grants the viewer the use of his characterized nuances to unfold the redemptive qualities needed to balance a film which is quite gritty in its honest and spontaneous plot. It's a much needed and well-timed story that encompasses the interactions between family, friends, love, drugs, sexuality and crime, brilliantly scripted by El Hosaini. Younger brother Mo, played by Fady Elsayed, delivers the talent of a true bravado as he maneuvers the negative trappings of inner city life with a well blended, forthcoming and racially mixed group of actors.

A unique angle to the film is that it delves into the experience of an Arab family of Egyptian heritage, which is more reminiscent of French cinema as opposed to British films which usually follow immigrant characters of South Asian or Afro-Caribbean descent. My Brother the Devil takes a segment of London and puts it to film in a way that is pure truth, suspense and stand and deliver cinema -pep boy

Director Andrew Dosunmu transfers Nigerian ideology to the heart of Brooklyn where the boundaries of kinship are put to the test in this grand achievement in cinematography, Mother of George (2013).  Within the Yoruba ethnic group of Nigeria, when a wife marries her husband, she becomes the wife of the entire family. This is the story of Adenike, portrayed by Danai Gurira, whose marital bliss is infringed upon by the mother of her husband, George, as they try to conceive a child. The construct of the film reflects the cultural meaning and expectations  of manhood set against the dictates of what is expected of a woman and wife of the family. In respect to the love she has for her husband and an impeding mother-in-law , Adenike is coerced into making an unthinkable decision with the hope of keeping all intact,  which in turn poses a moral dilemma for all involved.
Mother of George is a great film for avid film buffs wishing to escape the confines of Hollywood for ventures that are more independent, foreign, unique and unseen. Great cinematography, an identifiable human story and perfect acting drives the pace of this film and churn it into a work of beauty and art. -pep boy

More than likely you may not have heard about Nollywood, but that does not matter. What matters is in less than 20 years the Nigerian film industry termed "Nollywood" has become the second largest film industry in the world, generating over $590 million annually, and producing over 2000 films a year, second only to the Indian film industry known as Bollywood. What matters is that the industry is now the second largest employer in Nigeria, employing more than one million people, alongside the agricultural sector. What matters is Nollywood has a vast reach that goes beyond the borders, homes and movie theatres of Nigeria and Africa, itself. Nollywood has a following of millions of fans globally, extending into both African and non-African communities worldwide in places like Europe, the Caribbean, North America, Latin America and the Middle East. In 2012, Euromonitor International, a company that organizes the World Travel Market, reported that Africa’s 5.2 percent GDP growth rate for 2013 would be highly dependent on the demand for Nigerian films. What matters is Nollywood is an African story, a Nigerian success story.

Nigeria has placed renowned literary masters unto the world stage such as Nobel Prize in literature recipient Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, the most translated African writer of all time, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, currently the most prominent author in a long line of young Nigerian writers of African literature. The Nigerian love to tell his own story, and being one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world with over 250 ethnic groups speaking over 500 different languages, there are numerous and unique stories to tell from an African perspective. Those stories are now being told through the lens of Nollywood, a transition from the traditional traveling theatre to direct to home movies and beyond.

The Nigerian sense of self, cultures, traditions, history, craft of storytelling, oral folk literature and traveling theatre combined with its ethnic potpourri are responsible for the advent of the serendipitous, somewhat accidental birth and success of Nollywood. That birth came in 1992 with the film Living in Bondage. It’s a film directed by Chris Obi Rapu, about a man who kills his wife and is subsequently haunted by her ghost. Due to financial constraints and limitations in means of production the film was shot on inexpensive VHS tapes for direct to home viewing. It was a ploy to help shift the sales of mass volume of blank VHS video tapes that inundated the Nigerian market from Asia in the nineties. Shot in the native Igbo language, the film sold more than 750,000 copies. VHS tapes were never blank again, and the adaptation of DVD later followed.

Over time, other film makers followed the example of Chris Obi Rapu’s guerilla filmmaking formula. It was a formula that too often resulted in production quality that was laughable and questionable at times. However, the early and continued success of Nollywood is buttressed by the great stories told and portrayed by Nigerian directors, writers and actors. Notable successes like Osuofia in London (2003), director Kingsley Ogoro, a comedic film about a villager who travels to the London metropolis, are among the very long list of films that entertain the Nollywood aficionados worldwide.

The genres in Nollywood range from the familiar comedy, drama, horror, and action adventure to the more esoteric subjects referred to as traditional and fetish. These films cost about 25,000 to 75,000 dollars to produce, and tackles all the major concerns and dilemmas of the human experience. Nollywood’s bravado directly depicts extremely taboo subjects matter such as homosexuality in works like Men in Love (2010) directed by Moses Ebere, and Under Project (2013) directed by Theodore Ayanji.

Recently, coinciding with the effective direct to home filmmaking, is another transitioning. A transition towards the bigger budget made for cinema productions propelled by new film makers, demand for better quality, advancement in technology, and a rise in economic standards. Films such as Through The Glass(2008) directed by Stephanie Okereke, The Figurine (2009) produced and directed by Kunle Afolayan, Last Flight to Abuja (2012) directed by Obi Emelonye, and Half of a Yellow Sun (2013) which is based on the novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and directed by Biye Bandele, are some notable made for cinema releases. Today, the industry’s production quality is on a par with more established industries such as India and the United States, and the current budgets and quality films now being made in Nigeria will attest to that fact.

Pete Edochie, Patience Ozokwor, Olu Jocobs, Omotola Ekeinde, Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Ini Edo, Yul Edochie, Mercy Johnson, Mike Ezuruonye, and Rita Dominic are actors recognized and adulated worldwide for the films they make, the brands they endorse and the rumors that surround them. Hundreds of Nigerians with Nollywood dreams wishing to become a part of the prolific Nollywood star system embark on Nigeria’s capital city Lagos each week to audition for agents and directors.

Another factor contributing to Nollywood’s success is that the films are mostly made in the English language. English is commonly understood and spoken by Nigerians who normally speak in their regional mother tongue. It is the language which is the industry’s USP for the international market, and adds to the global appeal. Though the Igbo ethnic group is the main proprietors of Nollywood, other influential film makers are from the Yoruba and Hausa speaking people, among others. There is also a strong synergy between Nollywood and the Ghanaian film fraternity known as Ghallywood. Numerous Ghallywood actors such as Van Vicker, Jackie Appiah and John Dumelo are usurped into the Nollywood pantheon of performance Gods.

Nollywood is now an integral part of the Nigerian economy. It is an industry responsible for the development of new University curriculums in film making, film schools, editorial and trade publications, on demand and television channels, film studios, movie theatres and multiplexes, entertainment programming, internet film providers, film festivals and award ceremonies, casting agents and agencies, and most notable of all, the Nollywood star system.

It is the type of stories and the way they are told by Nigerians for Nigerians that is the backbone of Nollywood’s success and its international appeal. It is within the hands and minds of Nigerians to continue to produce films that are about themselves, and by themselves, without falling into the allure of trying to emulate or appease Hollywood. The Indians have done it their way successfully for over 100 years, and hopefully the success of Nollywood will reach its centennial in film making. As Nigeria’s President Goodluck Johnathon stated "Nollywood is our shining light." Shine bright Nollywood! -pep boy

Film makers Till Schauder and Sara Nodjoumi rivets the audience by combining
America's most loved and familiar, basketball, with its most unfamiliar and unloved, Iran. 
The Iran Job (2012) grants its viewers a voyeuristic insight into the lives of Iranians beyond
the news headlines through Kevin Sheppard, a notable American basketball player
signed to a basketball team in Iran as player and motivator. -pep boy