Why Indian Audiences Still Love Masala Films

Masala films have been around for decades. And despite all the new trends in Indian cinema like slow dramas, indie storytelling, international-style thrillers, these loud, dramatic, over-the-top movies still pull people in. Sometimes more than anything else.

 

You’d think the formula would get old: Hero, Villain, Family problem, Some comedy, a few big songs + action scenes that make no sense in real life. But for a lot of people, THAT is the fun of it! Masala films aren’t meant to be realistic; they’re supposed to feel big and emotional and satisfying. And when done right, they deliver all of that.

 

There’s something comforting about knowing what to expect. You sit down, and you know there’s going to be a dramatic story, a big fight, a moral victory at the end. It doesn’t matter if the storyline feels familiar. What matters is how it's told and how the emotions hit, how the hero enters, how the music swells at the right moment.

 

That’s what masala films do well. They know how to create moments.

 

They’re also built for the BIG screen. These aren’t quiet, subtle films. They work best when watched in a packed theatre where people clap, cheer, even whistle. That shared energy is the major part of the experience. Even someone who usually watches movies at home on Netflix might go out to catch a masala film just to be part of the crowd. 

 

There’s something special about sitting in a room full of strangers and feeling everyone react to the same scene. Whether it’s a cheer, a gasp, or laughter, it makes the whole moment more alive. It’s that collective buzz that makes the film feel bigger than just what’s on screen.

 

Sometimes you just want to laugh out loud, feel the tension when everything’s at stake, or sit back with goosebumps after a powerful one-liner from the hero. They’re not trying to mirror real life. They’re built to be larger than life, loud, emotional, and meant to leave you feeling something strong.

 

Surely, it’s a bit extra, bright visuals, big emotions, over-the-top scenes but that’s what gives it heart. And that’s called a masala movie loved by all. 

By Aditi Sawarkar