The Routledge Handbook of Indian Indie Cinema

This handbook offers a critical introduction to Indian Indie cinema, exploring its subversion of dominant ideas, aesthetics and narratives; its inclusion of marginal and alternative experiences and ideologies; its relationship with audiences; and its defiance of norms followed by commercial Bollywood cinema. It takes a critical look at independent and alternative films in India that cover a wide range of genres, regions, textual forms and languages. These films may be regional, experimental in style or feature innovative and timely sociopolitical interventions. The handbook contextualises this cinema historically and addresses the key issues concerning its significance. A definitive guide to independent Indian films, this volume provides acritical understanding of the many experimentations undertaken by alternative voices and filmmakers in India; offers new conceptual engagements that widen perspectives on “minor” and regional cinema; and covers a wide range of films while touching upon current and new filmmaking trends, emerging cinematic styles, film production and key filmmakers. These analyses of the Indie film industry and films in India are an essential read for students and researchers of media and film studies, film studies, cultural studies, world cinema and contemporary cinema, besides being of interest to film buffs.