India produces more films than any other country but its popular cinema has remained peripheral to western cinema buffs. This book is the first to provide a historical and cultural survey of Indian cinema- popular, artistic and regional - and to introduce readers to its distinctive forms.

"this unique publication, the first of its kind in the literature, co-authored by a social scientist and a film historian, provides a powerful critical analysis of the culture and history of the Indian film as an art form and popular medium." - T V Sathyamurthy, Emeritus Professor of Politics, University of York, England.