Last May marked 100 years since the first silent black and white feature film, Raja Harischandra, was released in India and all across the world throughout 2013-14 celebrations have been taking place to herald the milestone.
Now a multi-million pound industry, the genre produces up to 1,500 films a year, and is renowned for its vibrant style of song and dance and escapist plots.
And next weekend it is the turn of the Gujarati community in Grangetown, Cardiff to play host to a pop-up live music and dance event as part of the Wales One World Film Festival 2014.
Sita Thomas with band performing in Cardiff. Image: Simon Ridgeway
The evening at the Samaj Community Centre features The Bollywood Brass Band and dancer Sita Thomas in a performance that will bring to life a selection of some of the most iconic Bollywood scenes from films over the years.
Sita, who grew up in Tenby, told me: "It will be a very visually stimulating event which aims to give a flavour of the whole history of Bollywood music and film.
"We've got four drummers and six horns, trumpets, dhol drums, trombones and people will be able to spot some of the scenes from the earlier silent films as well as the colourful classics of modern Bollywood."
Bollywood Brass Band performing in Exeter. Photo: Tom Hurley
Sita has been dancing with the Bollywood Brass Band for six years and was inspired to train after seeing Bombay Dreams in the West End.
She later joined Honey Kalaria's Bollywood dance troupe and has performed for several Bollywood dance groups in Britain, as well as working extensively with the National Youth Theatre as both a choreographer and performer.
She has choreographed all of the dance moves for the Cardiff event and is particularly looking forward to recreating the Kajra Re for the crowds.
The Bollywood Brass Band's dhol drummer and Sita Thomas. Image: Simon Ridgeway
She said: "The evening will be really enjoyable for people who are big fans of Bollywood but for those who are less familiar it is a fantastic introduction to the genre and really celebrates the best of British and Indian culture. Hips, shoulders and feet won’t be able to resist moving!"
Rabab Ghazoul, who runs the WOW Women's Film Club, which hosts women-only screenings and encourages them to debate film, said: "This is the next natural step for the Women's Film Club.
"Women from diverse communities across Cardiff have been coming to our unique events at Chapter for years. Now it's time to take our events into those communities.
"This is the first of several exciting pop-up events for all the family, bringing our Film Club, Chapter and host community audiences all together under one Bollywood-style roof!"
The Bollywood Brass Band's saxophone and dhol. Photo: Tom Hurley
The Best of Bollywood Live! is on Saturday 22 March at 7pm at the Samaj Community Centre in Grangetown.
Tickets are priced at £12/£10/£8 and include a Gujarati meal and are available from Chapter Box Office on 029 2030 4400 and www.chapter.org
For more information on the event visit: www.wowfilmfestival.com
To find more about the Bollywood Brass Band visit www.bollywoodbrassband.co.uk
