Indian Popular Cinema: A Narrative of Cultural Change

by Wimal Dissanayake, K. Moti Gokulsing, Gokulsing

Book Overview

The book reviews nine decades of Indian popular cinema and examines its immense influence on people in India and its diaspora. Since it was published in 1998, Indian film has developed in new directions. As films today vie with Indian soap operas for popularity, film making in India has acquired 'industry status' and consequently has greater accountability to its public.

All this is reflected in this new and extensively revised edition of...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1858563291
• ISBN13: 9781858563299
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Trentham Books
• Length: 161 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.6" x 9.8"

Customer Reviews

Gives Indian Cinema a perspective

Most critics and scholars, especially in the west often dismiss and even ridicule popular Indian cinema owing to its idiosyncratic musical format, melodrama and playing to the gallery. This book provides a refreshing counter-argument, while analysing how popular cinema has affected the way of life in India, and how it might be significant to a western audience. The book is well-researched and very enjoyable. Without going into too much details about specific films, it tries to highlight the trends and unique genres developed in Indian films over a century. Having grown up on Hindi movies all my life, I found the book interesting, but I think it is more relevant to the western audience. It provides a good introduction and starting point to those just discovering the magical world of Hindi movies.For those who are into in-depth study of Indian cinema, I recommend "Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema" by Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willeman.

Excellent, , informative and eminently readable.

A knowledgeable and affectionate look at 90 years of Indian cinema, the cultural values it portrays and the influence it has had on the evolution of modern Indian society. I enjoyed it immensely and strongly recommend it both to cinema buffs everywhere and to all those interested in better understanding the complex web of traditions, prejudices and feelings that make India a compulsive focus of attraction to travellers and observers of social change.