On the other side of the canvas is Bollywood. 

Uplifting, vibrant and colourful, Bollywood is Indian dance and pop culture at its best.

This weekend University of Newcastle academic and Bolwarra woman Susan Kerrigan will co-convene the second annual Bollywood 101 Film Festival and Creative and Cultural Dimensions of Bollywood Symposium in Newcastle.

The aim is to bring Bollywood cinema and Indian documentary to the people of the Hunter Region.

“The whole musical component of the big Bollywood blockbusters really attracts the Indian diaspora around the world,” Dr Kerrigan said.

“In fact, Bollywood cinema sells more tickets globally than Hollywood, but it just doesn’t make as much money.”

The festival is the brainchild of Dr Kerrigan’s colleague Vikrant Kishore.

“The first edition of the film festival was aimed at getting Indians and Australians in and around the Hunter Region interested in Bollywood cinema and to start discussions around this powerful film industry,” Dr Kishore said.

The festival will also feature four panels to address topics including the production, distribution and consumption of Bollywood films in Australia.

“Bollywood films are incredibly colourful and bright. They have drama, they have comedy (‘their comic routines are hilarious’) and they have these fabulous actors who can dance.”

The festival starts on Friday and ends on Saturday. Tickets are available at www.eventcinemas.com.au/cinema/newcastle.