Voices of the Talking Stars : Women of Indian Cinema and Beyond

Explores the complex relationships between cinema, industry, cultures, labour and gender during the studio era (1930-55) The fourth book in the Readings in Gender Studies series, Voices of the Talking Stars is a feminist historiography for films compiled by the School of Women's Studies, Jadavpur University. It interrogates the frameworks of film history, culture and politics, weaving in debates on romance, sexuality, body and masculinity. Examining new categories of analysis such as desire and disquiet, this volume brings together some rare photographs and writings by leading women actors--reproduction of poems by Meena Kumari Naz, an open letter titled 'I'm a Bad Girl' by Mae West and an extract from her film I'm No Angel, an interview with Jamuna Barua and a translation from Kanan Devi's autobiography. It also includes excerpts from the Indian Cinematograph Committee Report (1927-28). Machine Generated Contents Note: Writing And Archiving The Self -- The Problem Of Respectable Ladies -- Women Writing Cinema -- Women Conceiving Cinema -- 1. Writing And Archiving The Self: Conversations And Biographies -- A Short Note On Devdas -- On Jamuna Barua -- Conversations On Devdas With Jamuna Barua -- On Kananbala -- I Salute All Kanan Devi -- 2. The Problem Of Respectable Ladies: Letters And Responses -- `letters To New Theatres' Ratan Bai -- `why Shouldn't Respectable Ladies Join The Films' Sabita Devi -- 3. Women Writing Cinema: Voices And Verses -- `tanhaa Chaand' And `tukre Tukre' Meena Kumari Naz -- `i'm A Bad Girl' And `i'm No Angel' Mae West -- 4. Women Conceiving Cinema: Talking Stars -- Oral Evidence, Indian Cinematograph Committee Report (1927 -- 28) Ruby Myers Nee Sulochana -- Oral Evidence, Indian Cinematograph Committee Report (1927 -- 28) Patience Cooper And Rainey Smith Nee Sita Devi -- Oral Evidence, Indian Cinematograph Committee Report (1927 -- 28) Punjab Board Of Film Censors -- Oral Evidence, Indian Cinematograph Committee Report (1927 -- 28) Mrs. Ansell, Entrepreneur. Edited By Madhuja Mukherjee. Includes Bibliographical References. "Explores the complex relationships between cinema, industry, cultures, labour and gender during the studio era (193055) The fourth book in the Readings in Gender Studies series, Voices of the Talking Stars is a feminist historiography for films compiled by the School of Womens Studies, Jadavpur University. It interrogates the frameworks of film history, culture and politics, weaving in debates on romance, sexuality, body and masculinity. Examining new categories of analysis such as desire and disquiet, this volume brings together some rare photographs and writings by leading women actorsreproduction of poems by Meena Kumari Naz, an open letter titled Im a Bad Girl by Mae West and an extract from her film Im No Angel, an interview with Jamuna Barua and a translation from Kanan Devis autobiography. It also includes excerpts from the Indian Cinematograph Committee Report (192728). " The fourth volume in the Readings in Gender Studies series, Voices of the Talking Stars is a feminist historiography for films compiled by the School of Women's Studies, Jadavpur University. It interrogates the frameworks of film history, culture and politics, weaving in debates on romance, sexuality, body and masculinity. Examining new categories of analysis such as desire and disquiet, this volume brings together some rare photographs and writings by leading women actors-reproduction of poems by Meena Kumari Naz, an open letter titled 'I'm a Bad Girl' by Mae West and an extract from her film I'm No Angel, an interview with Jamuna Barua and a translation from Kanan Devi's autobiography. It also includes excerpts from the Indian Cinematograph Committee Report (1927-28). Book jacket