The year that it was

Of the 80 Bollywood films released in 1975, only some 15 or 30 reflected the hopes, fears and complexities of the time the society was grappling with. Yet it is considered a landmark year, an evocative, and richly layered transformative year in cinema. But can one calendar year mirror the socio-political and emotional pulse of a changing India? Did ‘angry young man’ reflect the post-emergency disillusionment of the time? Was the genre fusion story telling taken center-stage in telling the uncomfortable truths?

The year was undoubtedly rich in story ideas, courageous scripts and unforgettable artistry. A powerful lineup of films — Sholay, Deewaar, Chupke Chupke, Julie, Aandhi, Nishant — justified the year as a landmark in storytelling, genre fusion, and marketing. The year also brought a remarkable cinematic spectrum by achieving a beautiful balance between commercial hits and artistic milestones. What sets this book apart is its attention to the lesser-discussed but equally vital parallel cinema films - like Nishant, Aandhi, and Mausam.  In his scholarly insights, the author brings the industry's willingness to grapple with uncomfortable truths—be it political disillusionment, patriarchal oppression, or emotional vulnerability. 

In all, 1975: The Year That Transformed Bollywood is an insightful read for film lovers, historians, and anyone curious about the intersection of art, society, and cultural evolution. This period marked a dark chapter in country’s democratic history. The Emergency had far-reaching impacts on all aspects of the society, but its notable impact was on landmark films. The book not only reaffirms the significance of the political tumultuous year but also gently nudges the readers to appreciate and explore the kind of cinema that left a lasting legacy. For films, the year was but a blessing in disguise.

A music enthusiast and a passionate cinephile, Pratik Majumdar contends that 1975 was a turning year in film-making era that reflected the complexities and hopes of an entire generation. In doing so, Majumdar rewinds the reels for the reader to immerse in a time when Bollywood was not only bold but beautiful, and no less brimming with unforgettable stories. Each of the thirty films that have been explored for their narrative strength but also for distinct treatment by the director. From groundbreaking blockbusters to nuanced dramas, directors showcased their creative prowess to have a lasting impact.

Five decades later, many of the stories still hold relevance. It will forever be celebrated for its landmark films for variety and experimentation. In terms of sheer diversity and creative output, the year not only rejuvenated story telling but created space to experiment to suit the evolving tastes of the audience. Perhaps the greatest testament to the year under reference is that it brought the leading actors closer to its audience. 

1975: The year That Transformed Bollywood opens a window into an era where every line of dialogue echoed across time and every frame was musically steeped in passion. 

1975: The Year That Transformed Bollywood 
by Pratik Majumdar
Hachette, New Delhi. 
Extent: 197, Price: Rs. 499.

First published in The Hindu.

A lowdown on the telecom wars

A phone in every Indian’s hand has been an amazing fairy tale. From a single phone in a colony to a mobile phone in every hand has transformed life and livelihood like never before. Not without reason is the telecom sector considered the poster child of the transformation in India, which has replaced the government monopoly with the fledgling private sector.

But former journalist and author Deepali Gupta makes it clear that the story of a phone in every Indian’s hand is a tale of bitter business rivalries and inept government handling, with a whole lot of support actors.

Through analytical storytelling, Gupta brings to light the spirit of innovation in the high-stakes competition that defines the telecom sector. With data and information, the author has woven an absorbing story with a lot of drama and suspense. However, the evolution of the state-controlled monopoly into a private sector oligopoly has its own set of nuances.

The National Telecom Policy of 1999 separated the men from the boys in fueling the telecom war. This led to the rise and fall of many entrepreneurs and one amongst them was Sunil Mittal, who emerged as the champion of champions. This was also the time when the cellular market had started exploding, adding challenges with the information technology equipment and infrastructure.

It is a fascinating account of the evolution of the telecom industry. Though it is based on information available in the public domain, it is a vivid account of the stiff competition between lead players — Tata, Birla, Reliance, Bharati — to capture a lion’s share of the country’s billion voices. It reads like a Wild West story — with corporate rivalries amidst emerging government policies — generating policies in favor of the private sector.

The voluminous book follows a chronological order, which covers all that which contributed to the process of evolution of the telecom industry.

It was in the late 1980s that the country had established the Telecom Commission to guide the Department of Telecommunications, to take forward the setting up of a single service provider for the entire country. It took nearly two years for the government to realize that the country had empty coffers.

But selling a stake nationally to a new private competitor was not considered even a remote possibility. However, the department was learning on the fly to make exemptions and inclusions in rolling out the process.

The political challenges, spectrum scams and the policy reforms were formidable. The voluminous book provides an insightful look into the complexities of the sector.

So much has happened in the telecom sector but what the consumers get to know is the outcome but not the how and why of how it came about. For instance, both Airtel and Reliance Jio have increased call rates at the cost of value-added services

What seems a small increase in monthly expenditure for an ordinary consumer may translate into significant profit for the service provider. What gets counted is the success story of the service provider, at a cost to the unsuspecting consumers.

Given the fledgling consumer base, the gradual increase in cost towards telecom services may seem a genuine concern.

However, the price of mobile telephony and data services in the country are the lowest, without any state subsidy. With AI on the anvil, the sector is likely to face new challenges.

Even if it does, the sector continues to be a business success story.

No doubt, the consumer-interest stories would add a new chapter to the telecom story. Airtel’s famously composed jingle by the music maestro AR Rahman would have got a new tune. The cancellation of licenses, involvement of politicians, and the subsequent series of investigations were all intriguing.

In the first two decades (1995-2015), multiple companies from India and abroad lay claim to a piece of the turf; this gave way later to the powerful few. This part is dealt in detail and is a must-read, as it goes beyond the data to capture human stories that shaped the sector.

Perhaps no one could have dealt with the subject like Gupta. She followed the ins and outs, ups and downs of developments to bring alive the telecom sector. It has all the ingredients of an intriguing story — corporate rivalries, intriguing practices, government policies — which remained dynamic and not uniform. Fast paced and expertly written, Telecom Wars is a primer on a subject.

Elsewhere in the world, too, telecom has been a natural monopoly of the state. But replacing a reluctant government monopoly with private entrepreneurs has been challenging. The book deals with the dos and don’ts of facilitating such a change.

The review was first published in the HinduBusinessLine on October, 6, 2025.