Bollywood is India’s Hindi-language film industry. It began in the city of Bombay, today known as Mumbai. While there are many film industries in India, Bollywood is one of the largest, releasing hundreds of movies every year. These popular movies are loved by many for their musical numbers, colorful sets, and dramatic storylines.
  
In 1896, the first motion picture arrived in India. It was brought to Bombay by a Frenchman named Marius Sestier and inspired Indian photographers to try out this new art form. They began to make short films, showing them in tents, playgrounds, and public halls. Around this time, a Hindu portrait photographer named Dhundiraj Govind Phalke became interested in filmmaking. He went to see the film The Life of Christ and was inspired to make a movie based on his own people’s gods, goddesses, and legends. In 1913, he released what is known as India's first silent film, Raja Harishchandra (translated to King Harischandra).

As the popularity of movies grew, sound was added to films. This new way of watching movies changed Bollywood forever. In 1931, the first Hindi film with sound, Alarm Ara (translated to Beauty of the World), was released. This movie was directed by Ardeshir Irani and began the tradition of music and dance for which Bollywood is so well known. It not only had dialogue, but it also featured music, songs, and dance numbers.

Early movies in India were not only for entertainment, however. During British rule, some films contained secret political messages amid their lighthearted and fun stories. At the time, many of the country's citizens could not read or write. Movies became a way for some filmmakers to communicate with people in a way they could understand. To limit this, the British put censorship laws in place, requiring Indian films to get British approval before audiences could watch them. For filmmakers who disagreed with British rule in India, these laws meant harder work to conceal their messages.