Hindi Action Cinema

Valentina Vitali presents the history of Bombay action films, posing new questions about the relationship between movies and their socioeconomic context. She considers how action gained prominence as an ingredient in film narrative, one that made it easier to produce and market films. She traces the emergence of the stunt film in the 1920s; examines the presence and function of women in action roles from the mid-1920s to the end of the 1930s; and analyzes the socioeconomic factors responsible for the films and for the popularity of figures such as Master Vithal, Ermeline, Fearless Nadia, Dara Singh, and Amitabh Bachchan as well as other, more contemporary figures.

"An original piece of work which is pioneering in its study of the importance of exhibition and distribution to the Hindi film industry." --Rachel Dwyer, SOAS, University of London Indiana University Press Indiana University Press

"Impressive... clear and accessible." --M. K. Raghavendra, winner of the National Award for Best Film Critic, India

"Hindi Action Cinema is an intellectually challenging work that will reward the attention of readers whose interests range from South Asian studies to global film and broader issues in the contemporary analysis of culture, society, and economy." --Journal of Asian Studies Indiana University Press

"Originally published in 2008 by Oxford University Press, India"--T.p. verso.

Valentina Vitali is Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of East London. She is editor (with Paul Willemen) of Theorising National Cinema.

Photographs

Note on the Transliteration of Film Titles and Names

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. The 1920s

The 1910s

The 1920s

The Action Ingredient

Sharda Film Company and Master Vithal

Conclusion

2. Women in Action Films in the 1920s and 1930s

The 1930s

From Artistic Pictures Corporation to Wadia Movietone

Fearless Nadia's Stunt Films

3. Interlude: The 1950s

The Bombay Film Industry during Nehru's Administration

Post-Independence Euphoria and the Marginalization of Action

4. The 1960s

The Bombay Film Industry in the 1960s

The Economy in 1960s India

Dara Singh and the Hindi Small-budget Film

Dara Singh's Wrestling Films

5. The 1970s

The Literature on the 'Angry Young Man'

Prelude

Indira Gandhi's U-Turn

The Bombay Film Industry in the 1970s

The Action Films of Amitabh Bachchan

6. Contemporary Action Cinema

Bibliography

Index