Vignettes of Bollywood 1990-present: a scholarly approach to Indian cinema

Abstract

This project highlights the importance of the Indian film industry as a legitimate field of scholarly and academic research. Through interdisciplinary eyes, the Indian film industry and its byproducts are examined through a multitude of different approaches including gender, film, and cross-cultural studies. The films mentioned in this research are the highest grossing, have the most famous actors and actresses, and are from the 1990s to present. Films were watched with a critical eye to see what exactly was shown and examined. Other scholars’ and critics’ work was read, films discussed, and critical assumptions were made based on all of the information gathered and perspectives observed. The reason research was conducted on this subject and in this fashion is because there was none of its kind that dealt specifically with Indian cinema in a critical light. Any research referenced is older and discusses older films. If society were really able to understand culture today in a world of generalized hybridity, scholars must study objects such as Bollywood. With the industry’s mobility, it creates new kinds of audiences who do not speak the same language, share the same local knowledge about cinema, but instead find themselves as active participants in reading, enjoying, and interpreting film. By doing this, new viewers are exposed to Bollywood as well as new meanings and ways of looking are created. Hopefully with the advent of this thesis, it will inspire others to view Bollywood film as a legitimate field of scholarly and academic research.