This section of the web site tells the remarkable story of how Bollywood cinema found its way to Trinidad and the lasting impact it had on the East Indian community.

Roughly 40% of Trinidad and Tobago’s population is of East Indian descent. Their ancestors began arriving from India in 1845 as indentured labourers, brought to work on sugar plantations during a time when “sugar was king.” The system of indenture ended on January 1, 1920, but the cultural ties to India remained strong.

In 1935, the first Indian talkie movie, Bala Joban, was screened in Trinidad. Historian Primnath Gooptar [1] described it as “a slice of India” that captivated local East Indians, who were drawn to it “like iron filings to a magnet.” For many, it was the first vivid and emotional connection to the land of their ancestors. Gooptar argues that Bala Joban and the wave of Indian films that followed transformed the cultural landscape of East Indian life in Trinidad.

Bollywood films brought with them a treasure trove of melodious songs that quickly became staples at weddings, birthdays, and community gatherings. According to Gooptar, no significant East Indian event took place without the inclusion of Indian movie songs. The songs became the soundtrack of a people rediscovering their roots.

Recognizing the deep cultural significance of Bollywood music, this section of the web site features some of the most beloved film songs released in Trinidad since 1935. Each song is accompanied by details about the film it came from, its release date in Trinidad (when available), and tools to help you connect more deeply with the music: transliterated Hindi lyrics in Romanized English and line-by-line English translations.

Join us as we celebrate over 80 years of Bollywood films and songs in Trinidad—a journey of sound, story, and identity!

References

[1] Gooptar, Primnath (2014). The Impact of Indian Movies on East Indian Identity in Trinidad. Saarbrücken, Germany: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing.