We often hear that the world is full of bad news, and that people are more interested in negative stories than positive ones. But why is that? And what does it have to do with Bollywood?
According to some studies and experts, there are several reasons why people are attracted to bad news, such as fear, curiosity, or psychology. Some say that people pay more attention to negative news because it alerts them to potential threats or dangers. Others say that journalists report more bad news because it is more dramatic or sensational than good news. Some also suggest that people have a natural bias towards negativity, which makes them engage with bad news even if they don’t like it. And some argue that the digital age has made news more emotional, visual, and fear-based.
But this does not mean that people don’t want any positivity at all. Some studies have also shown that people can balance their negativity bias with positive emotions and actions, especially in their personal relationships. Moreover, some people may seek out good news as a way of coping with stress or boosting their mood. Therefore, it may depend on the individual’s preferences, motivations, and context.
As a Bollywood fan, I have noticed this phenomenon of bad news in the industry as well. For example, I recently posted a news story on my Instagram page @iambollywoodbaba about a tragic incident involving a lion attack on a Chinese woman and her mother. This post got more than 3000 views, while my regular reels of movie scenes or songs don’t get that much attention. Does this mean that people are more interested in violence, death, or tragedy than entertainment, art, or culture?
I don’t think so. I think people are just curious about what happens in the world, and sometimes they are drawn to shocking or sensational stories. But I also think that people appreciate good news and positive stories, especially when they are related to Bollywood. For example, I remember watching the movie Taal (1999), starring Aishwarya Rai, Akshaye Khanna, and Anil Kapoor. In this movie, there is a dialogue by Anil Kapoor’s character Vikrant Kapoor, who is a music producer and director. He says “Hum dard bechte hai karidte nahin”, which means “We sell pain we don’t buy it”. This dialogue reflects the idea that people are more interested in listening to songs or stories that express pain or sorrow than happiness or joy.
But I also remember how this movie was full of beautiful songs and dances, composed by A.R. Rahman and choreographed by Shiamak Davar. The movie was a musical romantic drama that showed the love story of Mansi (Aishwarya Rai), an aspiring singer from a poor family, and Manav (Akshaye Khanna), a rich businessman’s son. The movie also showed how Mansi becomes a successful singer with the help of Vikrant (Anil Kapoor), who falls in love with her. The movie was a huge hit at the box office and won many awards for its music and performances.
So I think that people love both bad news and good news, depending on their mood and situation. Sometimes they want to be informed or aware of what is happening in the world, even if it is negative or sad. Sometimes they want to be entertained or inspired by what is happening in Bollywood, even if it is positive or happy. And sometimes they want to be both.
What do you think? Do you prefer bad news or good news? And what kind of Bollywood movies or songs do you like? Let me know in the comments below.
– @iambollywoodbaba