The 1950s and 1960s are often referred to as the Golden Age of Hindi cinema, an era of experimentation and innovation. Filmmakers were driven by new storytelling devices directed by genre, technique, social constructs, etc., that challenged previous movie-making conventions. This period would be a precursor to modern Bollywood and strike a balance of artistry and entertainment and would also be the first time audiences would be presented with forward-thinking filmmakers who shaped the canon of Indian cinema.