Past, Present, Future: Indian Cinema at 100
In observance of the
centenary of Indian cinema, the University of Illinois Library presents "Past,
Present, Future: Indian Cinema at 100,” a forum dedicated to examining the
origins, evolution, and future of Indian cinema in both local and global contexts.
This landmark event, marking one hundred years of innovation, growth, and
productivity by the world’s largest, most prolific, and most culturally diverse
film industry provides a unique opportunity for the University of Illinois—home
of nearly one thousand students who hail from the subcontinent, and more than
forty South Asian specialists from across the disciplinary spectrum—to
recognize the artistic, cultural, and historical contributions Indian cinema
has made over the last century.At
the same time, it offers exciting possibilities for the University to engage
not only with the East Central Illinois South Asian population, but also with
those members of the community with an interest in or curiosity about Indian
cinema and culture. Distinguished guests include activist and director Onir,
Indian cinema and popular culture expert Lalitha Gopalan, cultural critic Ajay
Gehlawat and industry analyst Manjunath Pendakur. Although
cinema is the focus of the symposium, presentations will examine film in wider
social contexts, underscoring the power of the medium to reflect and at the
same time to shape individual and group identity, to reaffirm and also to
deconstruct dominant cultural beliefs, and to represent and simultaneously to
interrogate behavioral norms and conventions. For more details, see:
http://publish.illinois.edu/pastpresentfuture2013/