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The pursuit of Indian-ness

"BOLLYWOOD CROSSINGS": A film by Tavishi Alagh

Bollywood films depicting our culture and traditions have always been welcomed by the Indian diaspora. Inspired by this fact, filmmaker Tavishi Alagh's soon-to-be-released film "Bollywood Crossings" shows how pervasive is the presence of Hindi films in the lives of most Indians settled abroad.

Using numerous artistic devices, to pay homage to Hindi cinema as well as to articulate its central theme, the film uses inter-titles that are reminiscent of Hindi film posters. The posters announcing each character's "crossing" use different artistic styles, fonts, images and colours to evoke the particular genres and periods of Hindi film.

Besides exploring universal themes like the notion of home and the longing for it in today's fast paced world, Tavishi has used plot and stylistic devices that are reminiscent of Hindi films released in the 1960s and 1970s. The film is basically about Indians settled in America. Through the intricacies of Bollywood films and music, the characters negotiate their own crossings across nations, cultures and identities.

Cutting back and forth between India and America, the film showcases how Hindi films have gone beyond entertainment to become a "virtual space" helping Indians living outside find virtual connections to each other and their identity.

Similarly, the film's original score draws on the unique sounds of Hindi film music, from its use of sweeping flourishes to the incorporation of choral voices.

Each character's theme music is customised to his or her story.

Tavishi has worked under Academy Award nominated director Shekhar Kapur and produced and directed "The Talkies". She has produced, directed, written and line-produced more than ten films and television programmes in India and the US apart from other international projects. -- Madhur Tankha

-- Madhur Tankha

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