Print Issues
Under the shadow of the Bollywood tree
(Vol 26 No 2)
Under the shadow of the Bollywood tree
Bollywood! The term itself is contentious. Does it denote a certain type of film made in India? Or only those made in Mumbai? Only Hindi films made in Mumbai? Or all Hindi films from other places as well? Despite the apparent confusion, there is something distinctly ‘Bollywood’ about a certain kind of movie that is difficult to distil on paper yet recognisable when one encounters it. Beyond questions of style, geography and language there remains a lively debate surrounding Bollywood. Is it India’s best export? Or does it prevent the growth and recognition of other cinemas? Are its facile plots and orthodox outlook an escape, or a reinforcement of regressive values? In this, the centennial year of Bollywood, Himal thought it appropriate to look at, beyond, under and around it.
Himal’s fourth quarterly issue offers articles on what Maldivians are watching, Afghanistan’s relationship with Bollywood (more complex than a simple love affair), the rescue of Delhi’s cinema halls by Bhojpuri Cinema, Bhutan’s burgeoning independent film scene, as well as an impassioned defence of the much-maligned song-and-dance sequence. As always we offer a host of other articles on issues throughout the Southasian region.
Kanak Mani Dixit on Kathmandu and the reality of Bollywood
Avijit Ghosh on the remembrance of things future
Tariq Rahman on the languages of Lollywood
Oishik Sircar on the seductions of the Neoliberal Nation
Debojit Dutta on the rise and fall of Assamese fi lm
Laxmi Murthy on deadly love
Haroon Khalid on patriotism and the Pakistani cinema
Reena Mohan on the importance of being idyll
Vijay Prashad reviews Faisal Devji on Pakistan as a political idea
Amita Baviskar reviews Cheryl Colopy on dirty, sacred rivers
Manjula Padmanabhan’s fiction
Rudra Rakshit on supply chain stories
Manjula Padmanabhan‘s short story Freak
You can find the issue in book stores or buy them in their print or digital formats online. You can also get the subscription to Himal here. Do check this page (and our Facebook and Twitter profiles) to get the latest updates!
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