Lack of equal representation in Indian entertainment industry

Growing up watching classic Bollywood films and dancing to energetic, electrifying music, I have fostered a love and appreciation of my North Indian culture. Every trip I take to India means learning more about my rich family history and exploring the “mother country.”

Yet as much as I love when my culture is represented, I’m concerned that the Bollywood and even American media industries portray North Indian culture more often than South Indian culture. The popular stereotypes — samosas, vibrant clothing, and loud, week-long weddings — are usually what come to mind whenever people think about Indian culture. This mindset embraces the flashy, touristy side of India without even considering the country as a whole.

Because the entertainment industry seems to portray India exclusively through North Indian culture, society today does not have an appreciation from the hundreds of other traditions, language and styles of other regions of India. The imbalance of representation allows for more false stereotypes and can affect one’s perception of the country.

Many friends tell me I’m “lucky” to be North Indian, and that my trips to cities like Delhi and Agra  must be so much more fun than theirs. This saddens me because India is known for having such a wide variety of unique cultures, and people should be proud of where they come from. For my part, I have never traveled to South India, so I would benefit from an exposure to the traditions and customs.

As an officer of the Indian Cultural Awareness Club, I was involved in helping the different grades select songs for their performances at Bombay in the Bay. I noticed that besides the Classical performance, there were only one or two other South Indian songs included out of the 80 songs selected for the entire show. As much as I enjoy the upbeat North Indian tracks that are usually selected, I feel like South Indian music and culture are underrepresented in the Saratoga community and on a global scale.

Some of my South Indian friends complain about attending arangetrams, Indian classical dance solo recitals, because they are so used to seeing them often. But I enjoy watching the performances because I didn’t grow up practicing Bharatanatyam or Kathak dance, two dearly cherished and traditional forms of Indian classical dance that take years of dedicated practice to master.

I feel as though I have much more to learn about my own family history, and I look forward to exploring the diverse traditions represented in my family tree. India is a treasure chest of culture and history, and more equal representation and acceptance of both North and South India would benefit everyone.