Muslim culture in Indian cinema

About this book

Cinema is a fairly accurate reflector of the political trends and of 'presence' in public spaces that affect personal lives. It captures the changing graph of social space, as well as that of individual anxiety. This book brings together in-depth explorations of the various facets of Muslim life and culture in Indian cinema as they are woven into collective histories. The book covers more than 60 years of cinematic presentation. It moves into past histories through such films as Mughal-e-Azam and Shatranj ke Khiladi, analyzing personal relationships and considering larger issues such as language, music, and poetry. The excerpts from Saeed Mirza's Ammi touch upon several sensitive and significant issues while Anisur Rahman presents a perceptive overview of the intricacies of cultural representation. Qawallis, Sufi philosophy, language, partition, divided families, courtesans, and Muslim personal law are some of the issues that are explored through cinematic representations, nudging our memories as a reminder of our collective heritage. Together the essays open out multifarious dimensions for further exploration both for the expert and the novice.