Pankaj Jain, "Visual Anthropology of Indian Films: Religious Communities and Cultural Traditions in Bollywood and Beyond" (Routledge, 2024)
Dec 12, 2024
auto_awesome
Pankaj Jain, an expert in visual anthropology and Indian cinema, delves into the intricate portrayal of religious communities in Bollywood. He discusses how films reflect social issues, gender dynamics, and environmental themes. Jain critiques the representation of Hindus and Muslims, revealing the complexities of inter-communal narratives. He also touches on the historical significance of classic films and their influence on modern societal understanding. His insights highlight the rich tapestry of cultural narratives threaded through the world’s largest film industry.
The podcast explores the multifaceted representation of religious communities in Indian cinema, challenging traditional narratives surrounding Hindus and Muslims.
It emphasizes the intersection of gender issues and environmental themes in Bollywood films, showcasing their relevance long before mainstream discussions.
Deep dives
The Journey from Small Town to Film Scholarship
The speaker shares their humble beginnings in a small town in Rajasthan, where a passion for Bollywood films began. Despite not having formal training in film studies, their lifelong love for Hindi cinema led to an academic exploration of this art form. Over the years, this passion materialized into a collection of over a dozen articles that span various facets of Indian cinema. The speaker emphasizes the importance of leveraging personal experiences and academic insights to produce meaningful work that reflects the vibrancy of Bollywood.
Exploration of Diverse Themes in Indian Cinema
The speaker's published articles are categorized into three main sections: portraits of religious communities, gender issues, and environmental themes. Unique contributions include discussions on the portrayal of Christians and Parsis in Indian films, highlighting previously unexamined topics in academia. Additionally, articles address gender representation and the environment, illustrating how filmmakers tackled these critical issues long before they became mainstream discussions. This breadth of themes showcases the rich tapestry of narratives present in Indian cinema, often reflecting societal challenges and values.
Challenging Misconceptions and Promoting Inclusiveness
The speaker argues against common misconceptions regarding inter-communal relations in Indian films, specifically the portrayal of Hindus and Muslims. By highlighting films that promote secularism and communal harmony, the speaker challenges narratives that suggest filmmakers are anti-Muslim, presenting evidence from various classic movies. This critical examination sheds light on the rich historical context of filmmakers who sought to promote unity amid societal tensions. This work not only adds to academic discourses on film but also amplifies the voices of those who have long been part of India's cinematic heritage.
Indian films have been a worldwide phenomenon for decades. Chapters in this edited volume take a fresh view of various hidden gems by maestros such as Raj Kapoor, Bimal Roy, V. Shantaram, Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, Shakti Samant, Rishikesh Mukherjee, and others. Other chapters provide a pioneering review and analysis of the portrayal of Indian religious communities such as Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and Parsis. The themes covered include unique Indian feminism and male chauvinism, environment and climate issues, international locations and diaspora tourism, religious harmony and conflict, the India-Pakistan relationship, asceticism, and renunciation in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Unlike many recent studies of Indian films, these chapters do not distinguish between popular and serious cinema. Many chapters focus on Hindi films, but others bring insights from films made in other parts of India and its neighbouring countries.