Bollywood : Sociology Goes To the Movies

`Dudrah... successfully renews an interdisciplinary dialogue between cinema and sociology... Dudrah′s book is a great reference for multi-disciplinary research... the book gives academic credence to Bollywood cinema′ - The Tribune `A new book which gives an extraordinary insight into Bollywood′ - Asian Voice `This book asks and answers some interesting questions about what exactly Bollywood is′ - New India Express Why are people fascinated with Bollywood? What is the cultural significance of the films produced there? In recent years Bollywood - the popular Hindi cinema from Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India - has received widespread international attention in the global media. The book examines the reasons for this interest and provides an unrivalled guide to the phenomenon. The book: · provides a comprehensive theoretical and empirical engagement with Bollywood cinema and its audiences; · examines the role and representations of cultural icons in Bollywood films; · pinpoints the key trends in the Bollywood film industry as it develops in the age of globalization; · subjects Bollywood to the first systematic sociological, cultural and media analysis. Packed with memorable examples and penetrating insights, this is a marvellous work which combines sociology with media and cultural analysis to provide a highly original account of the Bollywood phenomenon. Why are people fascinated with Bollywood? What is the cultural significance of the films produced there? In recent years, Bollywood - the popular Hindi cinema from Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India, - has received massive international attention in the global media. "Bollywood" examines the reasons for this interest and provides an unrivalled guide to the phenomenon. "Bollywood": provides a comprehensive theoretical and empirical engagement with Bollywood cinema and its audiences; examines the role and representations of cultural icons in Bollywood films; pinpoints the key trends in the Bollywood film industry as it develops in the age of globalization; and subjects Bollywood to the first systematic sociological, cultural and media analysis. Packed with memorable examples and penetrating insights, this is a marvellous work which combines sociology with media and cultural analysis to provide a highly original account of the Bollywood phenomenon. Provides a theoretical and empirical engagement with Bollywood cinema and its audiences. This book examines the role and representations of cultural icons in Bollywood films, the key trends in the Bollywood film industry as it develops in the age of globalization, and subjects Bollywood to a systematic sociological, cultural and media analysis "Engaging the discipline of sociology to study the phenomenon of Bollywood cinema, this book examines popular Hindi cinema as a global industry and its films as popular cultural texts. It also considers the relationships that are possible between cinema and its audiences. Though there have been theoretical accounts and textual readings of Bollywood films, this is the first book to study them from these perspectives." "The author approaches Bollywood cinema through an interdisciplinary conversation with studies of the cinema drawn from sociology, film, media and cultural studies." "Providing an interdisciplinary understanding of the possible relationships between cinema and culture and society, this book will be welcomed by students, researchers and scholars of sociology, film, media and cultural studies as well as by the general reader interested in the study of popular Indian cinema."--Jacket Cover 1 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgements 12 Introduction 16 1. Towards a Sociology of Cinema 22 2. Singing for India: Songs in the Bollywood Film 48 3. Reading Popular Hindi Films in the Diaspora and the Performance of Urban Indian and Diasporic Identity 66 4. Bollywood Cinema Going in New York City 97 5. Queer as Desis: Secret Politics of Gender and Sexuality in Bollywood Films in Diasporic Urban Ethnoscapes 118 6. Between and Beyond Bollywood and Hollywood 142 Conclusion 168 Appendix Six Genres of Bollywood Films 176 Notes 182 Bibliography 192 Index 201 About the Author 212 Towards A Sociology Of Cinema -- Singing For India: Songs In The Bollywood Film -- Reading Popular Hindi Films In The Diaspora And The Performance Of Urban Indian And Diasporic Identity -- Bollywood Cinema Going In New York City -- Queer As Desis: Secret Politics Of Gender And Sexuality In Bollywood Films In Diasporic Urban Ethnoscapes -- Between And Beyond Bollywood And Hollywood. Rajinder Kumar Dudrah. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [191]-199) And Index. Why are people fascinated with Bollywood?What is the cultural significance of the films produced there? In recent years Bollywood - the popular Hindi cinema - has received widespread international attention in the global media. Bollywood examines the reasons for this interest and provides an unrivalled guide to the phenomenon.

Bollywood: Sociology Goes to the Movies rejuvenates a dormant dialogue within sociology about understanding the possible relationships between cinema, culture, and society. This is done through an interdisciplinary conversation with studies of the cinema drawn from film and media, and cultural studies.