Cinema as a Historical Source - Valid or Invalid?

Abstract

Based on my PhD research on how History, the subject – is represented in Hindi Films. Although my thesis did not cover this topic entirely as I also dealt with culture theory, film theory and historical theories along with how women’s representations, nationalism and so on were portrayed in the selected films which I had chosen for research. Can Hindi cinema be viewed as a source of History? I will say Yes, it can; and this is what I will argue in my paper. One can say that documentaries and art cinema have always been considered important visual sources of History, not just in India but across the globe. We are all aware of Masala Bollywood (popular term for a genre of Hindi cinema) films – which are, as most global film scholars put it, film stars dancing around trees and imaginary landscapes in colourful attire – I would say, these can also be seen as a source of history in their own manner. But I will also highlight that the genre of the historical/periodical dramas can also be seen as a source of Indian History – in fact, they are seen as sources of History, by the million viewers out there in and out of India. The paper will attempt to look into these notions. The paper will not look into the other regional cinemas in India as I believe, they are a topic of study on their own.