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September 5, 2004
In brief
Indian Cinema: The Bollywood Saga
By Dinesh Raheja and Jitendra Kothari
Roli Books. Available with Oxford University Press, Plot # 38, Sector 15, Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi.
Tel: 111-693-673
Email: ouppak@theoffice.net Website: www.oup.com.pk
ISBN 81-7436-285-1
155pp. Rs3,120.50
WHILE one may well question the greatness of Indian cinema, Dinesh Raheja and Jitendra Kothari leave no doubt in the reader’s mind that the industry has “arrived”. Certainly, it is one of its kind with stars going international in their appeal as they vie for the attention of domestic audiences and the South Asian Diaspora. But, just how individual is this appeal is a question that needs careful reflection.
As Raheja and Kothari show us, each decade — with its own set of conditions (political, economic and social) — left its mark on the kind of films that were produced. Thus while the seventies were the decade of the angry, young man, personified by Amitabh and others, the nineties saw the projection of urban, wealthy lives, of glamorous women clad in chic western apparel — indicating an economy no longer shackled by nationalist policies. But, somehow — though this is not what Raheja and Kothari say — the fare dished out by Indian cinema in each decade is a medley of tastes with no distinct flavour. There appears to have been little creative experimentation, and most movies, however well done, sell the same line. This has been especially true of blockblusters, with the result that producers have opted to make films with themes bound to find favour with the public. The commercialization of cinema and the absence of any significant originality have been the result.
However, it does not appear to have started out that way as Raheja and Kothari show in their opening chapters, giving pictorial glimpses of the first films produced in the subcontinent. Totally undeterred by the black and white medium, the players are shown in opulent costumes, their expressions making up for the absence of words (sound was yet to be introduced). Later, the early talkies unleashed their own magic, well conveyed by the writers as they describe how the first talking movie, Alam Ara, boasted seven songs — the start of the eternal link between music — probably Indian cinema’s greatest asset — and the film industry. The burst of colour during the 60’s, too, left its mark, especially in the beginning when vivid shades and the glitter of gold tended to overshadow the film’s theme. But, in the end, Indian cinema has played it safe — and except for a handful of art movies — is being increasingly dictated to by the audience’s hunger for more of the same stuff.
Bollywood Saga is a lively read, and though not without factual errors as pointed out by some reviewers, it gives a descriptive account of the Indian film industry through the ages. A labour of love — the authors clearly have films coursing through their veins — it is a sort of coffee table primer for those who wish to grasp a little more than the basics. For those with only a superficial interest in the subject, the book is still a good buy as it reproduces some excellent film stills from as far back as 1913 when the first movie Raja Harishchandra was released in the subcontinent. —Ayesha Azfar
80 Ways to Prosperity with Feng Shui
By Arun Lama
Penguin India. For more information log on to www.penguinbooksindia.com
ISBN 0-14-303126-0
180pp. Indian Rs199
THE book 80 Ways to Prosperity with Feng Shui is a well written manual for improving your fortunes the Chinese way. The author, Arun Lama, comes with a pedigree, having studied the subject thoroughly under his master, Lillian Too. His skill with Feng Shui is apparent as complicated ideas are simplified to the level of the casual reader without turning the book into fluff.
As many would know, Feng Shui is the Chinese art, or rather, science, of bringing good fortune into your life by having control of your surroundings. The location of the building where you work or live, what is in front of the building and what is an the back, the interior design, the arrangement of furniture, the location of the toilets — all of these things and more have an effect on your fortune. The book tells us how to control these factors by, for example, installing mirrors in the correct places to reflect away bad luck coming from outside, or how to rearrange your furniture to your advantage. There is a fair bit of mathematics involved, but it is made painless thanks to the author’s explanations and the drawings in the book.
Even though this book is for the casual reader, it contains a wealth of information about a subject that is as old as the Great Wall itself. If you are in need of more expertise than the book has got, Arun Lama advises you to consult a professional. Highly recommended. — Shahzad Hasan
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