yes it is.

The wiki page gives a really quick and dirty overview but sadly it really does not go into any real detail. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_India

I based my statement on a really great dissertation that I read 3 years ago that describes the cross fertilization of influences between India and European cinema during the 1920s and 1930s and the influences India had on world cinema in the 1950s. It also went briefly into the power India cinema has in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa during the present day. For the life of me I can not remember its name, but I'll try to look it up tomorrow. After reading it I gained more interest in the topic and acquired films from India when I had the time/money to do so.

Do India's film reach the U.S. in any great numbers? The answer is obviously no. But the U.S. public's taste of films from other countries is very weak generally. Today India's films have broad audiences throughout south Asia (including China and the M.E.), Africa, Indonesia, as well as in many international film festivals. I could go on talking about other things that makes India's contribution to world cinema important, but it's late. If you would like to continue the conversation tomorrow, I'm in.

Indian films were widely shown in countries with large Indian populations, including, of course, Guyana, but also Jamaica in the Caribbean. And, I'm guessing, countries in Africa like Uganda and South Africa. Or countries that, for some reason or other, clamored for Indian films, e.g. Uzbekistan. My point is that Indian films have been much more widely seen around the world than Americans would know. I meet immigrants in NYC all the time who recall seeing Bollywood films in their countries of origin.

So Germany developed an entire expresive mode of stylization that effected every part of the film, from production design to make-up to acting. And the Russians developed a style of editing that allowed the moving image to ellicit reactions from the audience just by the order that objects are shown, but Indian cinema is #2 below the USA because Indian cinema has a broad popular audience in todays global market? A market that accounts for less than 1% of worldwide ticket sales. That's not enough to be #2.

I'm not aware of any cross polinization between European and Indian cinema during the 20's and 30's. I'd be fascinated if you could find out more.

EDIT: After reading that Wikipedia article I would say that Italian neo-realism and American musicals, both from the post-war period, had the greatest external influence on Indian cinema. Internally, like Japan, it seams that India's cinema inspiration sprung from its "high" arts: Classic literature, ancient theater traditions, traditional musical storytelling. Conversely, American cinema sprung from the very low arts: Wild west shows, vaudville, cabaret, comics and crime magazines.

Personal Top 5:

- USA
- Japan
- Italy
- France
- Sweden

1. United States
2. France
3. Germany
4. USSR / Russia
5. Italy
6. Japan
7. United Kingdom
8. Sweden
9. Hong Kong
10. Spain

This got difficult near the bottom, particularly picking number 10.

In many ways, this is the most unintentionally hilarious thread in DVD Talk history. "How in the world has Belgium contributed to the history and development of Belgian Ale?!?!?!"

A lot of film history is x begat y, y begat z, z begat a, and a begat neo-x, and thus the process repeats itself. German Expressionism led to American Film Noir, which was a striking influence on French New Wave, and the maverick late 60s/early 70s American "Cinéma Vérité"-styled moviemaking wouldn't exist without French New Wave or Italian neo-realism, etc. etc.

I don't know how I would "rank" the films in terms of contribution, because it seems like one huge interconnected experience. I'd rather have some Belgian ale.

While watching a Tarantino movie shot in China taking place in Japan, with an American star...I think I'll join you.