Bombay (Reuter) — The motion picture

industry in this undisputed film capital

of India turns out three to four new films

a week and many people here see every-

one of them. 

Bombay is overwhelmed with huge posters

and advertising the latest releases and fea-

turing  excellently drawn likenesses of the

stars. Most do not carry their names, beca-

use they are so well known here it would 

be almost an insult.

 

Most Bombay production follow the

standard formula of popular Hindi

melodrama with  songs,   dances, 

romance, a large slice of fantasy 

and violent passion — but not too

violent. 

The industry is bogged down with

many taboos and several actions

from kissing to drinking, are ban-

ned from the screen. 

Outside the fantasy world, life

is hard for more serious film-

maker. Even as renowned an

artist as Satyajit Ray, probably

the best-known Indian director

abroad, has trouble getting as

showing for his work in India. 

Nonetheless, the cinema has 

become one of Bombay's major 

industry, employing an estimat-

d 20,000 peoples. 

But rising costs and uncrowded 

market have forced some of the

 best-known studies here and in

 Madras, the country's other film 

metropolis, out of business. 

The government has also taken a 

closer intrest in the industry, its 

lavish expenditure and its standard, 

since imposing a state of internal 

emergency a year ago. 

At least 500 films a year are produced

 in India. Madras last year accounted

 for some 250 of these, Bombay, more

 than 150 and Calcutta, about 30. Many

 of them run for only a few days and 

there makers are never heard from

 again. But India has also just witnessed

 its first $10 million money-spinner, 

Sholay (Flames) which has astounded

everyone with its success, grossing more

Jthan triple the income of any previous film. 

It is still playing packed houses around

 the country, with two different endings 

already used and talk of a third being

written in. 

Popular known as " curry western " . It

 is also the first  70-mm epic made  here

 and seems certain to establish a trend

 for more films of the same kind. It runs 

for 3 ½ hours and featured spectacular

 photography and some good acting as it

 recounts the exploits of a dacoit (bandit)

 gang and his eventual annihilation. 

Its hero is Dharmendra, the most popular

 super star of India and Hema Malini, a 

leading actress, in what remains a male-

dominated world. 

Even Sholay's action is slowed by the

 inevitable songs and dances. But film-

makers here hope that with editing and

 an English soundtrack, it could become 

the first Indian film to make major impact 

on Western audiences.