Julia Stoll
Research expert covering TV and video media
Film industry in India - statistics & facts
Renowned for its glitz, vibrancy, and drama, the Indian film industry has earned global repute as one of the largest cinema hubs of the world. Once considered co-terminus with Bollywood, the multi-billion-rupee industry went on to carve its own niche through several of its non-Hindi regional language productions, particularly those from the South Indian market. Films in Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam have exhibited immense prowess, often comparable to the Hindi film segment’s box office performance.
Apart from grappling with changes in domestic trends, Indian cinema was among the various industries to be affected by the reciprocal tariffs announced by the United States in 2025. In a bid to promote American-made movies, President Trump declared a 100 percent tariff on all non-U.S. films. This is expected to adversely impact overseas revenue earned from the distribution of Indian films in the United States where a significant share of the Indian diaspora resides.
More than just Bollywood
Despite the dominance of the Hindi-speaking market within the film industry, a new trend has emerged among Indian moviegoers. The South Indian film hubs made a robust recovery compared to Bollywood and international movies including Hollywood, with cinema attendance surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The Tamil film segment, or Kollywood, in particular had a successful run in 2023. Furthermore, the popularity of films such as ‘Aadujeevitham - The Goat Life’ hinted at the discerning nature of India’s theatrical audience who preferred originality to Bollywood’s formulaic storytelling.India's film and music industries often go hand-in-hand
In addition to advertising, music in Indian film is a significant revenue generator, often creating more buzz about the film than its trailers. Music labels like T-Series have risen through the ranks on in terms of views and subscriptions, making Indian music a global sensation. Some of the biggest names in the game such as Yash Raj Films and Dharma Productions owe much of their success to the songs in their films that are fondly remembered across generations. Interestingly, the highest grossing film Dangal, released in 2016, did not have music as popular as some of its counterparts. Starring Aamir Khan, the film broke records previously held by PK, starring the same actor. Once again, the popularity of Indian film music was not restricted to Bollywood - the Telugu hit, 'Naatu Naatu', from the movie RRR made waves at the 2023 Oscars.A paradigm shift in film production and consumption
The onset of the coronavirus pandemic has no doubt changed the film industry especially in terms of consumption. The rise of as the preferred mode of watching movies among Indians has helped sustain the film industry through this turbulent phase. In fact, the convenience of choosing from an array of films both old and new in a variety of languages has made movie streaming a trend that is here to stay.Apart from grappling with changes in domestic trends, Indian cinema was among the various industries to be affected by the reciprocal tariffs announced by the United States in 2025. In a bid to promote American-made movies, President Trump declared a 100 percent tariff on all non-U.S. films. This is expected to adversely impact overseas revenue earned from the distribution of Indian films in the United States where a significant share of the Indian diaspora resides.
