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The Bollywood Boom 劲歌．热舞．宝莱坞

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

It may come as a surprise to many, but the world’s largest movie industry doesn’t reside in the sunny hills of California, but here in Asia. Its common name, “Bollywood,” is a combination of Hollywood and Bombay (now Mumbai), the Indian city where all the big movies studios are located. The Indian film industry produces an astounding 1,000 movies a year, roughly two times the number produced in Hollywood.

听到这个消息时，可能有很多人会感到惊讶：其实全球最大的电影工业，并不是在加州阳光普照的山丘上，而是在你我身处的亚洲。它通称为「宝莱坞」，是由（英文的）「好莱坞」(Hollywood)加上「孟买」过去的旧名（英文：Bombay，现改为Mumbai）所组成的名字。孟买是印度各大电影制片厂的大本营。印度的电影业每年出产的电影高达一千部，数量惊人，大约是好莱坞产量的两倍。

The history of Indian cinema is as long as that of Hollywood, and for a country so often in turmoil, movies offer the perfect means of mental escape. Starting in the 1950s, Bollywood movies became famous for their elaborate song and dance sequences. However, these were nothing new; the Indians had long narrated tales through music and classical dance. Even today, the quality and popularity of its soundtrack can sometimes make or break a movie.

印度电影的历史和好莱坞一样悠久，而且对于一个经常处于动荡不安中的国家来说，电影的世界为心灵提供了一个最佳避难所。自1950年代起，宝莱坞的电影便以其华丽精彩的歌舞桥段着称。然而，这并不足为奇，长久以来印度人即运用音乐和传统舞蹈来陈述故事。甚至到今天，电影原声带的质量和受欢迎的程度有时还会决定电影的成败。

Ancient Indian tales and forms of drama also tended toward spectacle and melodrama, and this lived on in the film industry. Big budget, romantic tearjerkers may involve star-crossed lovers, heroes, villains, reversals of fortune, and families torn apart. Furthermore, in order to appeal to the biggest possible audience, the often three-hour-long movies sometimes contain a bit of everything from action, romance, and comedy to elements of traditional Indian culture.

古印度的故事和戏剧的形式对于华丽大场面与通俗的题材情有独钟，电影业界也承袭了这一贯精神。大手笔、赚人热泪的浪漫爱情故事里可能会囊括以下元素：命运坎坷的无缘恋人、英雄、恶棍、戏剧性的命运转折，以及流离失散的亲人。此外，为了吸引庞大的观众，电影的片长经常长达三小时，内容包罗万象，有时候一部片会包含多种元素：举凡动作场面、浪漫爱情、喜剧，以及传统印度文化要素等，无所不包。

Vocabulary

单词发音

boom [bum] n.〔生意〕繁荣﹐兴旺

reside [rɪˋzaɪd] v.（性质等）存在于[（+in）]

roughly [ˋrʌflɪ] adv. 粗略地；大约

elaborate [ɪˋlæbə͵ret] adj. 精心制作的

appeal [əˋpil] v. 有吸引力，迎合爱好[W][（+to）]

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单词发音

astounding [əˋstaʊndɪŋ] adj. 令人惊奇的，令人震惊的

turmoil [ˋtɝmɔɪl] n. 骚动；混乱

sequence [ˋsikwəns] n.（电影中描述同一主题的）连续镜头

narrate [næˋret] v. 讲（故事）；叙述

soundtrack [ˋsaʊnd͵træk] n. 电影配音

spectacle [ˋspɛktək!] n. 壮观的场面

melodrama [ˋmɛlə͵drɑmə] n. 情节剧，音乐剧

live on 继续活着, 活下去 persist, carry on

tearjerker [ˋtɪr͵dʒɝkɚ] n.【俚】赚人热泪的电影或戏剧

star-crossed [ˋstɑr͵krɔst] adj. 运气不好的

villain [ˋvɪlən] n. 坏人，恶棍

reversal [rɪˋvɝs!] n. 逆转

课文朗读

课文讲解

An example of Bollywood at its most spectacular is “Devdas.” Based on a popular Indian novel and set in the early 1990s, it’s the story of childhood sweethearts Devdas and Paro. Devdas’ parents forbid them to marry, leading Paro to enter into an arranged marriage with another man. Distraught, Devdas sinks into a life of drinking, and the tale’s conclusion is one that would wrench even the hardest heart.

宝莱坞最令人叹为观止的经典作品是《宝莱坞生死恋》。这部电影改编自印度的畅销小说，场景设定在1900年代初期，是关于德阜达和帕萝这一对青梅竹马的故事。德阜达的父母极力阻止俩人的婚事，造成帕萝必须依媒妁之言与另一名男子成婚。伤心欲绝的德阜达从此一蹶不振，过着借酒浇愁的生活。故事的结局相当感人，即便是最铁石心肠的人亦无法不为之动容。

However, it wasn’t just a well-loved tale and Bollywood’s biggest names that drew audiences. The 2002 production contained magnificent sets and exquisite costumes, making it, at the time, the most expensive Bollywood film ever made.

然而，吸引观众的并不是只有广受喜爱的故事和宝莱坞的大明星而已。片中金碧辉煌、华丽唯美的场景与精致考究的戏服，使得这部2002年的作品，成为当时宝莱坞有史以来耗资最巨的电影。

These bigger budgets and improvements in movie effects have also resulted in a boom in other genres, such as action thrillers. And this has further attracted foreign audiences. As Bollywood fever struck the UK, even Andrew Lloyd Webber, famed for the musical “Cats,” joined in with the Bollywood inspired stage production, “Bombay Dreams.”

预算增加和电影特效制作的改良，也大幅地推动了其他类型电影的制作，例如动作惊悚片。宝莱坞的电影也因此受到海外观众的瞩目。当宝莱坞热潮延烧到英国时，就连知名音乐剧《猫》的制作人安德鲁．洛伊．韦伯也顺势搭上了这股风潮，制作了宝莱坞式歌舞型态的音乐剧《孟买明星梦》。

While Bollywood beats Hollywood in terms of the number of productions per year and rivals it in viewership, the big bucks remain in the U.S. Hollywood bosses, however, know a good thing when they see it. The year 2007 saw the first Bollywood and Hollywood co-produced movie, “Saawariya,” distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment.

虽然宝莱坞每年的电影产量超越好莱坞，观众人数也不相上下，但巨额的资金仍集中在美国。不过好莱坞的大老板也都是有眼光的识货之人。2007年，好莱坞和宝莱坞推出了第一部双方连手制作的电影《蓝幻蓝诗》，并由新力电影公司发行。

As more and more people fall under Bollywood’s enchanting spell, why not join them and check out one of India’s fun and fabulous movie exports today!

有越来越多人拜倒在宝莱坞的迷人魅力之下，何不加入他们的行列，今天就去找部欢乐精彩的印度电影来看看吧！

−by Claire Tyrrell

Vocabulary

单词发音

forbid [fɚˋbɪd] v. 禁止，不许

exquisite [ˋɛkskwɪzɪt] adj. 精美的；精致的

rival [ˋraɪv!] v. 与……匹敌；比得上

distribute [dɪˋstrɪbjʊt] v. 发行

enchanting [ɪnˋtʃæntɪŋ] adj. 迷人的，使人着魔的

More Information

单词发音

set [sɛt] n. 为（小说，舞台等）设置背景

sweetheart [ˋswit͵hɑrt] n. 恋人，情人

distraught [dɪˋstrɔt] adj. 几乎要发狂的[（+with）]

wrench [rɛntʃ] v. 使痛苦，折磨

boom [bum] n.（商业等的）景气，繁荣

thriller [ˋθrɪlɚ] n. 恐怖小说（或电影等）；探险小说（或电影等）

viewership [ˋvjuɚʃɪp] n. 电视观众 the people who watch a television program or motion picture

buck [bʌk] n.【美】【俚】元

spell [spɛl] n. 魔力，魅力; 咒语，符咒

Reading Questions

1. Which of the following statements about Bollywood is true?

A. It’s located in the sunny hills of California.

B. The majority of its films are about historical turmoil.

C. It produces 1,000 more movies a year than Hollywood.

D. Its films usually feature a lot of singing and dancing.

2. According to the article, what does the success of a Bollywood film often depend on?

A. Complicated songs and dances from the 1950s.

B. The reputation of its supporting cast.

C. The popularity of the accompanying music.

D. Quality acting and thrilling plots.

3. According to the article, which of the following do typical Bollywood films NOT feature?

A. Elements of traditional Indian culture.

B. Big budgets and long running times.

C. Expensive computer-generated effects.

D. Plots that utilize a range of film genres.

4. What is the main theme of this article?

A. How the competition between Hollywood and Bollywood has turned into cooperation.

B. How Bollywood films have succeeded abroad.

C. An introduction to the Indian film industry.

D. Traditional influences on the development of the Indian film industry.

Devdas Trailer

The opening of 'Bombay Dreams'.

Shahrukh Dancing Bombay Dreams

Arash - Bombay Dreams

more videos

Saawariya trailer

Saawariya - Saawariya

Answer