Ideology of the Hindi Film: A Historical Construction

Rating:
Summary: Thorough and well-researched
Review: Why don't people kiss in Indian movies? How come the police always arrive after everything has already happened? Why do people break out into song in the middle of the movie? Prasad answers these questions and several more by placing the Hindi film within its historical, social, and political contexts. He also exposes how the ideology of the Indian nation-state is pervasive within the cinema. In addition, Prasad explores several issues of India's national identity politics and how issues of gender, patriarchy, class, caste, and religion are played out upon the screen. An excellent read for anyone who is interested in analyzing film as well as the broader social and political messages and implications that films employ.