Introduction

If you’ve ever called every Indian movie “Bollywood,” don’t worry — we did too. Until we realized that’s like calling every American movie “Hollywood,” including Fargo and Get Out.

India doesn’t have one film industry. It has dozens. Different languages, styles, audiences, stars — each with its own ecosystem, fanbase, and cinematic flavor. Bollywood may be the loudest internationally, but it’s far from the only game in town.

Let’s decode the major players so you can stop pretending to know what Tollywood is.

Bollywood: Hindi-Language Megaspectacle

The big one. Bollywood refers to Hindi-language films based in Mumbai. It’s what most non-Indians think of: Shah Rukh Khan, romantic monologues, Karan Johar slow-motion crying, musical numbers in the Alps.

But even Bollywood has range — from the maximalist chaos of Jawan to the glossy nostalgia of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

Kollywood: Tamil Cinema’s Powerhouse

Kollywood refers to Tamil-language cinema from Chennai. These films can be politically charged, gritty, stylish, or mythic — often all at once.

Our episode on Sarpatta Parambarai showed us just how culturally rich and narratively sharp Tamil cinema can be.

Tollywood: Telugu-Language Blockbusters

Confusingly, “Tollywood” can refer to either Telugu or Bengali cinema — but these days, most people mean the Telugu industry (based in Hyderabad).

Think high-budget action, impossible stunts, slow-motion entrances, and theatrical masculinity. If you’ve heard of RRR, you’ve seen the tip of the iceberg.

We haven’t done a full Tollywood breakdown yet — but we will. You’ve been warned.

Mollywood, Sandalwood, and Beyond

Kerala’s Malayalam industry (Mollywood) is known for quiet realism and sharp social storytelling. Karnataka’s Kannada industry (Sandalwood) has a more niche, regional flair but is rapidly growing.

Angamaly Diaries blew our minds with its grounded, kinetic energy — and a 12-minute single take that lives rent-free in our brains.

Final Takeaway

Indian cinema isn’t one monolith. It’s a multiverse.

So next time someone says “Bollywood,” you can smile politely and explain that they probably mean Hindi-language Mumbai cinema — and then send them here.