Masala film

Masala films of Indian cinema are those that blend multiple genres into one work. Masala films emerged in the 1970s and are still being created as of the 2020s. Typically these films freely blend action, comedy, romance, and drama, or melodrama. They also tend to be musicals, often including songs filmed in picturesque locations.

The genre is named after the masala, a mixture of spices in Indian cuisine. According to The Hindu, masala is the most popular genre of Indian cinema. Masala films have origins in the 1970s and are common in every major film industry in India. Production of these films is still active in the mid-2020s.