Synopsis
Although the motion picture industry in India is one of the oldest and largest in the world―with literally thousands of productions released each year―films from that country have not been as well received as those from other countries. Known for their impressive musical numbers, melodramatic plots, and nationally beloved stars, Indian films have long been ignored by the West but are now at the forefront of cinema studies. With the prolific number of films available, it can be difficult to know what to watch. In 100 Essential Indian Films, Rohit K. Dasgupta and Sangeeta Datta identify and discuss significant works produced since the 1930s. Examining the output of different regional film industries throughout India, this volume offers a balance of box-office blockbusters, critical successes, and less-recognized cult classics. From early films by Satyajit Ray to contemporary classics such as Salaam Bombay and Lagaan, each entry includes comprehensive details about the film and situates the work in the context and history of the Indian canon.In addition to these notable productions, this book also examines key film directors and the work of major film stars in the industry. While many studies of Indian films focus on a single language’s contributions, this encyclopedia offers a comprehensive guide to productions from across the country in various languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam, Assamese, Punjabi, Marathi, and English. 100 Essential Indian Films is an engaging volume that will appeal to both cinema scholars and those looking for an introduction to a vital component of world cinema.
About the Authors
Dr Rohit K Dasgupta is lecturer at the Institute for Media and Creative Industries, Loughborough University. He is the author of Digital Queer Cultures in India: Politics, Intimacies and Belonging (Routledge, 2016) and co-editor of Friendship as Social Justice Activism: Critical Solidarities in a Global Perspective (Seagull/University of Chicago Press, 2017).
Sangeeta Datta is a writer/director, independent filmmaker and cultural commentator. She is director of Baithak – a non-profit arts company – and Stormglass Productions. Trained and published in Tagore music, Datta has been a research fellow at the University of Sussex and SOAS, UK, and is the co-author, with Kaustav Bakshi and Rohit K. Dasgupta, of Rituparno Ghosh: Cinema, Gender and Art, (2015). Her critically acclaimed work includes the award-winning feature film adaptation of King Lear, Life Goes On (2009), the stage productions The Dying Song (2008) and Gitanjali 100 (2013-14), and the documentary, Bird of Dusk (2018).
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