Bollywood rage captivates Chinese

Tuesday, November 21, 2006 (Beijing):

The appeal of Bollywood is clearly growing across the world and China is no exception.

In fact, a number of average middle-class Chinese families such as that of Hou Wei's have grown up enjoying Indian cinema.

Twenty-four-year-old Hou Wei's passion for Indian music has actually transformed his home into the site for a non-stop Bollywood hit parade.

Hou Wei says that she was first introduced to Bollywood at the age of four.

"I remember one very old Hindi movie called Awaara and another called Caravan made in 1971. These were the first movies for me. The first song I listened to was from Caravan. I remember Piya Tu Ab To Aaja " said Hou Wei, Singer.

Instant attraction

Hou Wei describes her first brush with the Bollywood song as nothing short of love at first sound.

"I don't know why, but I felt that the song was beautiful, from heaven, and I wanted to learn it," said Hou Wei, Singer.

Hou's father, a classical Peking opera singer, says that he tried hard to encourage his young daughter's passion for music.

"I am a Peking opera performer. I feel for music. Even I really liked Indian songs when I heard them. So from the time she was small, I encouraged her to develop interest in all kinds of music," said Hou Lian Ying, Hou Wei's father.

Hou describes Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle and Jagjit Singh as her favourite singers.

And her passion for Indian music has also helped her as Hou has become quite the local celebrity performing her Bollywood hits at parties, restaurants and even on local TV.