Bollywood memorabilia have many takers on the internet
(No Ratings Yet)Hollywood memorabilia auctions fetch millions of dollars every year. Though Bollywood is yet to reach those heights, online auction and sale of memorabilia from Hindi films is fast picking up worldwide.
From ebay to Cafedreams.Com and Bollywoodfilmposters.Com, a number of websites are selling old classic posters, film-inspired clothesline, photos, calenders, comic books, games, and even personalised items like Bipasha Basu’s bracelet, Boman Irani’s eyeglasses and Soha Ali Khan’s jeans, which these stars auction for charity causes.
“The film merchandise sector was till sometime back confined to producing cheap, pavement imitations of the ‘Friend’ cap, posters of film actors or song books. However, online shopping stores have given a new lease to this dormant sector,” says Deepa Thomas of ebay India.
The hype and hoopla generated by Lagaan’s Oscar nomination gave a major fillip to what was hitherto a fledgling market in the country-retail of movie memorabilia. Movie memorabilia-from toys, comic books, games, note pads, colouring books to a film-inspired clothesline and most important of all film posters are being sold through online stores, says Thomas.
“The demand has increased in the last two-three years, and the buyers range from movie buffs to collectors. There are lot of NRIs who are interested in buying CDs of Bollywood films or old songs. We recently got a very big order from Germany to deck up a banquet hall on Bollywood theme for a party,” she says.
Recently, “A day on the sets with Priyanka Chopra” was organised, which received an enthusiastic response from bidders from around the world and an amount close to 2 lakhs was collected for the NGO Nanhi Kali that works for the education of the girl child. “eBay has even launched a Bollywood barometer which gauges the popularity of Bollwyood star based on the number of products up for sale on our website,” says Thomas.
In Hollywood, film memorabilia is regarded not only as an art form and a collector’s delight but also has immense commercial value for film lovers. Despite the huge popularity of Indian films both in India and in the South Asian diaspora the world over, Bollywood memorabilia was until now collected only by a few.
Till recently, the original posters of Hindi films were discarded like waste paper in India. However, Sunil Shibad of Bollywood. Art Store said their online shop of film posters is first attempt to save this unique art form.
The old posters are more beautiful You can see the lines and texture. The new ones are just copies of the films made by someone sitting at a computer, Shibad says in a release.
Merchandising based on some Hollywood films, however, have been a big success in India. Recently, Pottermania hit India. A number of brands related to toys, games, designer kids wear, stationery have cashed on the Harry Potter series books and films. Most school libraries had several copies of the Harry Potter series and they were constantly in circulation.
— PTI
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