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Ratings: ★★★★★ (4.6/5)
Genre: #FilmStudies #CulturalStudies #Anthropology #IndianCinema

Book Review:
This is a scholarly guidebook to popular Hindi cinema (Bollywood) written by anthropologist and film scholar Tejaswini Ganti. Published in the Routledge Film Guidebooks Series, this work provides a comprehensive overview of the history, structure, and cultural significance of the Bombay film industry. It covers the main themes and characteristics of Hindi cinema, including music, dance routines, melodrama, lavish production values, and the star system. The book also discusses significant films, directors, stars, production and distribution processes, and includes interviews with actors, directors, and screenwriters. Ganti's anthropological approach provides unique insights into the industry's workings, from the chaos of a film set to the complexities of fan culture. This guide is equally valuable for students of film and cultural studies, as well as general readers seeking to understand the world's largest film industry.