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Tollywood

British  
/ ˈtɒlɪˌwʊd /

noun

  1. the Telugu-language film industry, based in the state of Andhra Pradesh in SE India

  2. the Bengali-language film industry, based in Tollygunge in E India

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Tollywood

C20: a blend of Telugu (or Tollygunge ) + Hollywood ; compare Bollywood

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Despite her experience, Gottlieb incorrectly referred to “RRR” as a “Bollywood” rather than “Tollywood” film, as the Telugu-language industry is known, drawing ire on social media.

From Los Angeles Times

Oh, and the award for best original song went to “Naatu Naatu” from the epic “RRR,” a product of the huge Indian movie industry — not “Bollywood” but “Tollywood,” referring to films in the Telugu language, which is spoken in southeastern India.

From Washington Post

The lyricist Chandrabose, who is known for his work in Tollywood, that is, Telugu cinema, has said he wrote most of the words in about an hour.

From New York Times

Hailing from the South Indian Telugu-language film industry known as Tollywood, distinct from the Hindi-language films of Bollywood, “RRR” boasts breathtaking action sequences and musical numbers including the viral “Naatu Naatu,” a catchy Ukraine-shot song-and-dance sequence featuring an anti-colonialist message and fleet-footed moves by Charan and Rama Rao.

From Los Angeles Times

He grew up in a small village in Telangana, a Telugu-speaking state whose capital, Hyderabad, is the home base for Tollywood.

From New York Times