One film out of every five made anywhere on earth comes from India. From its beginnings under colonial rule through to the heights of Bollywood, Indian Cinema has challenged social injustices such as caste, the oppression of Indian women, religious intolerance, rural poverty, and the pressures of life in the burgeoning cities. And yet, the Indian movie industry makes only about five percent of Hollywood's annual revenue.
In this Very Short Introduction, Ashish Rajadhyaksha delves into the political, social, and economic factors which, over time, have shaped Indian Cinema into a...