May 2025

This edited volume of sixteen essays explores cinema as a powerful social and cultural force. It critically examines how cinema reflects and shapes modern society, with a focus on its deep impact in a film-obsessed country like India. Social scientists view cinema not just as entertainment but as a lens through which issues like ideology, identity, modernity, and social change can be understood. The book traces the evolution of Indian cinema—its past, present, and potential future—highlighting how it has influenced and been influenced by India’s diverse social and political ideologies. Aimed at cinema scholars and curious readers alike, the collection positions cinema as a vital expression of societal transformation.

Editors:

Anirudh Deshpande, Professor, Department of History, University of Delhi

Anagha Kamble, Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Mumbai