Melody in film: The Hindi film song as a cultural product (Part III)

By Roshni Sengupta
The turn of the millennium made the filmic landscape more varied, more experimental and definitely more stimulating. As the discursive space became increasingly narrow with competing religious fundamentalisms dotting the political mindscape, the Hindi film song would turn into an offshoot of the main narrative, often being presented at the end of the film as the credits rolled.

Melody in film: The Hindi film song as a cultural product (Part II)

By Roshni Sengupta
Although a number of films had been produced in the 1960s in colour, the 1970s could be described as the first decade of the colour medium in Hindi cinema. Accompanying the dawn of colour, however, was an embryonic sense of general despondency in politics – the Nehruvian era had come to an end and with it the raucous positivity and enthusiasm for nation-building.

Melody in film: The Hindi film song as a cultural product (Part I)

By Roshni Sengupta
The Hindi film song has continuously been the launch vehicle for the film as such, particularly so for the historical genre. Consider the heartbreakingly beautiful “Jo Wada Kiya” (Taj Mahal, 1963) or the extraordinary “Jab Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya” (Mughal-e-Azam, 1960).