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Bollywood

BOL-lee-wood

Bollywood is a English-origin word used in Indian English, meaning hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai — the largest in India by output and reach. In crosswords it is the 9-letter answer BOLLYWOOD (9).

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Meaning & usage

Bollywood is the informal name for the Hindi-language film industry centred in Mumbai (formerly Bombay — the "B" of Bollywood). It produces over a thousand films a year, is famous for its song-and-dance set pieces, and exports across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the global Indian diaspora. India is also home to large Tamil (Kollywood), Telugu (Tollywood), Malayalam and Bengali film industries; "Bollywood" specifically means the Hindi one.

In a sentence

The Bollywood number was the loudest part of the evening.

Common spelling variants

  • Bolly
  • Hindi cinema

Bollywood is the English spelling used in MG Mini puzzles.

Bollywood as a crossword answer

Bollywood is a 9-letter answer. A typical clue:

“Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai — the largest in India by output and reach” (9)

Category: Arts Origin: English

Related words

  • Mumbai — Capital of Maharashtra and India's largest city; called Bombay until 1995.
  • Filmi — Adjective: in the style of a Bollywood film — melodramatic, song-and-dance, larger than life.
  • Bhangra — High-energy Punjabi folk dance, also a globally popular music genre.
  • Bharat — Indigenous Sanskrit name for India, used officially alongside "India".
  • Item — A term used in Indian cinema for a catchy, upbeat song or dance sequence.
  • Kolkata — Capital of West Bengal and former British Indian capital; called Calcutta until 2001.

Related crosswords

Puzzles with a theme close to Bollywood.

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