The unique style of this cinema is explored through an analysis of the mise-en-scène of the film itself – the locations, sets and costumes – and shows how they, along with the song and dance sequences, construct the ‘look’ and meaning of a film. Equally important to India’s visual culture is publicity. Cinema India explores the development of film advertising and its range of aesthetic influences, from indigenous sources, for example, the Ajanta cave paintings, to foreign styles, such as Art Deco, and examines how publicity material is able to convey social, political and economic information about the society in which it is produced.

Synopsis
Now nearly 100 years old, Indian cinema is one of India's most vibrant cultural products as well as being the world's most prolific, at its peak producing an estimated 800 films a year. "Cinema India" concentrates on the visual culture of Indian film. Drawing on a wide range of resources, this text traces the roots of Indian cinema in early photography, theatre and chromo-lithography, examines its unique styles, modes, genres and themes, and describes its development into the dominant visual form within Indian popular culture. The text considers mise-en-scene, looking at sets, locations and costumes, which are key to understanding ideas of fashion, lifestyle and consumption in the world of Hindi movies; examines the use of clothing, hairstyles and make-up to discuss changing ideas of beauty, sexuality and consumerism; and looks at the "dare to bare" debate surrounding the swimsuit and the wet sari.

Another important strand considered is film advertising: by considering all forms of publicity material the authors reveal the interactions between star's image, artist and film-producer, which may not only affect the design of the material but also have a direct influence on the content of the film. Other crucial elements in Indian cinema that are discussed are ethnicity and Westernization, which highlight issues of class, caste, region and religion in this most complex, intriguing and little-known visual forms.

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