Indian Indies

It’s nearly impossible to define an ‘Indian Indie’, given how many diverse regional cultures India consists of, and how many distinct languages and paradigms Indie filmmakers create in. There is arguably no other country in the world whose independent cinema is as varied in textures and fabrics and socio-cultural nuances as India’s is. It takes an unparalleled depth of insight and a tenacious spirit to attempt to bring all of these together into the pages of a single book, where one can begin to understand what makes the New Independent Indian Cinema so unique. Devashish Makhija (director, Ajji, Bhonsle) A pioneering work on a neglected area of India’s vibrant cinema. Ashvin Devasundaram’s timely new book is a much-needed addition to the academic studies of the world’s largest film factory. With its lively case studies and accessible writing style, the book will be a valuable resource for researchers and students interested in world cinema. Daya Thussu, Professor of International Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University Ashvin Devasundaram’s Indian Indies: A Guide to New Independent Indian Cinema is a lucidly written and an extremely insightful book on the new Indies of Indian cinema. It brings together funding, production, distribution, exhibition and censorship histories of these films with sharp discussions of the wide range of their thematic concerns that depart radically, in form and content, from mainstream cinemas. Identifying the “indies” film with an interrogative and critical focus on issues that are normally not addressed like caste and gender discrimination, LGBTQ+ rights, religious fundamentalism, political violence against minorities, state repression, authoritarianism, the breakdown of legal and judicial structure, and realized on screens in varying aesthetic forms, this book significantly foregrounds radical new Indian cinemas that need to be discussed and circulated. This is a book that film makers, film buffs, film students and an expanding audience that responds to these films on OTT platforms will find very engaging and useful. Ira Bhaskar, Professor, Cinema Studies, JNU, India