How Bombay became the Epicenter of Indian Cinema

Words by Aashika Shivangi Singh

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This is a 1967 city map of Bombay (now Mumbai). The map depicts Bombay from the Mithi River (Mahim Creek) to Colaba (Colaba Point) and from Malabar Point to Wadala, Sion, and Kurla. Created for the International Tourist Fair held in Bombay that year, several points of interest are depicted, including the Mahalaxmi Temple and the Gamudra Mahal. An inset along the right margin, titled 'Beautiful Bombay' includes other 'popular land marks' including the Aarey Dairy, the Rajabal Tower, and the Gateway of India. Roads, railways, and sea routes are labeled. Several other inset maps are included around the border, including a detailed map of Fort Bombay, a map of the Bombay city and suburban railway system, and a map of 'drives to scenic and interesting places in and around Bombay.' To aid foreign tourists, there are also lists of places of interest, important hotels, and cinemas along the left border. Distances to other cities in India, including Delhi, are given along the top and right side border, and distances by sea to international cities are listed along the bottom border. An incredible depiction of the Gateway of India sits atop the title, offering a striking impression. (Available as print)

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How Bombay became the Epicenter of Indian Cinema

Production of an Indian movie at Bombay studio - 1961

“Ae dil hai mushkil jeena yahan/ zara hat ke, zara bachke/ yeh hai Bombay meri jaan”.
("Ah heart, it's difficult to live here / Stay a little aside, be careful / This is Bombay, my dear.")

This is the title song of the 1999 film Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan, a story about a man searching for work in Mumbai. Lakhs of people migrate to Mumbai even today to make a career in different professions this megacity offers. With its unique blend of economic opportunities, cultural vibrancy and as the financial capital, in comparison to other megacities existing in India, Mumbai offers a wide range of job prospects in industries like finance, media, entertainment, and start-ups, attracting ambitious individuals from across the country. The city's thriving Bollywood industry also makes it a dream destination for those aspiring to careers in film, television, and modeling. Mumbai is fostering a culture of hustle, entrepreneurship, and creativity.

Mumbai is globally recognized for Bollywood, an industry synonymous with commercial films and entertainment, which has successfully represented itself on international platforms, for instance, recently Laapta Ladies had entered in race for the 2025 Oscars (although it didn’t make it through), RRR gained global acclaim, winning the Best Original Song Oscar for "Naatu Naatu" in 2023, and The Elephant Whisperers won Best Documentary Short Subject.

How did this coastal metropolis, once a British colony situated on seven islands, evolve into the birthplace and center of Indian cinema during the colonial era, eventually becoming a world-renowned industry?