Santosh (happiness) going to the cinema

Abstract

I came to Bangalore in April 2012 to research for a documentary on the role of Hindi popular cinema in the middle class and specially the way some of the films set in European locations were clearly addressing the diaspora, the NRI communities all over the word, but also the new empowered Indian middle class who triggered by the films choose these same locations to spend their honey-moons, or wedding anniversaries. In Bangalore, where some of my characters live, I was completely mesmerized by the impact of cinemas, and how they still attract so many people. In Europe the cinema theatres are closing down as a consequence of the new technologies of screening and distribution. Cinema as a communal experience is dying in the West.  And yet in India in the city of Bangalore, known for its thriving technology and new media, cinema theatres are still playing a strong dynamic role in people’s daily lives. Many economical, cultural and sociological reasons can be found to explain why India still has the strongest film industry in the world. In order to better understand how Hindi popular cinema worked with its audience I decided to meet up with film critic M.K. Raghavendra in his house, one hot afternoon.