Bollywood's India : Hindi Cinema As a Guide to Contemporary India

"Bollywood movies have long been known for their colorful song-and-dance numbers and knack for combining drama, comedy, action-adventure, and music. But these exciting and often amusing films rarely reflect the reality of life on the Indian subcontinent. Exploring the nature of mainstream Hindi cinema, the strikingly illustrated Bollywood's India examines its nonrealistic depictions of everyday life in India and what it reveals about Indian society. Showing how escapism and entertainment function in Bollywood cinema, Rachel Dwyer argues that Hindi cinema's interpretations of India over the last two decades are a reliable guide to understanding the nation's changing hopes and dreams. She looks at the ways Bollywood has imagined and portrayed the unity and diversity of the country--what it believes and feels, as well as life at home and in public. Using Dwyer's two decades spent working with filmmakers and discussing movies with critics and moviegoers, Bollywood's India is an illuminating look at Hindi cinema"--Provided by publisher Bollywood S India Explores The Nature Of Mainstream Hindi Cinema, Now Best Known As Bollywood, And Its Non-realistic Depictions Of Everyday Life In India. Rachel Dwyer Argues That Hindi Cinema S Interpretations Of India Over The Last Two Decades Are The Most Reliable Guide To Understanding The Nation S Changing Dreams And Hopes, Fears And Anxieties. She Shows How Escapism And Entertainment Function In Bollywood Cinema, And What That Reveals About Indian Life And Society. Bollywood S India Looks At The Ways In Which Bollywood Has Imagined And Portrayed The Unity And Diversity Of Indiawhat It Believes And What It Feels; Life At Home And In Public. The Book Is Based On Twenty Years Of Watching, Teaching And Writing About Hindi Films, Working With Filmmakers And Discussions With Critics And Fans. Featuring 80 Striking Images, The Book Has Much To Say To Scholars And Students Of Indian Cinema Who Are Curious About The Ways In Which Aspects Of Indian Life And Culture Are Shown On Screen, As Well As The General Reader And Fan Of World Cinema. Contents Preface Introduction 1 Unity: The Nation, Its History and Trans-nationalism 2 Diversity: Region, Caste and Class 3 Religion: Myths, Beliefs and Practices 4 Emotions: Sadness, Anger and Happiness 5 Home: Romance, Love and the Family 6 The World: Education, Work and Lifestyle 7 Agneepath/The Path of Fire, 1990–2012 Filmography Further Reading Acknowledgements Index