Now nearly 100 years old, Indian cinema is one of India's most vibrant cultural products as well as being the world's most prolific, at its peak producing an estimated 800 films a year. "Cinema India" concentrates on the visual culture of Indian film. Drawing on a wide range of resources, this text traces the roots of Indian cinema in early photography, theatre and chromo-lithography, examines its unique styles, modes, genres and themes, and describes its development into the dominant visual form within Indian popular culture. The text considers mise-en-scene, looking at sets, locations and costumes, which are key to understanding ideas of fashion, lifestyle and consumption in the world of Hindi movies; examines the use of clothing, hairstyles and make-up to discuss changing ideas of beauty, sexuality and consumerism; and looks at the "dare to bare" debate surrounding the swimsuit and the wet sari.
Another important strand considered is film advertising: by considering all forms of publicity material the authors reveal the interactions between star's image, artist and film-producer, which may not only affect the design of the material but also have a direct influence on the content of the film. Other crucial elements in Indian cinema that are discussed are ethnicity and Westernization, which highlight issues of class, caste, region and religion in this most complex, intriguing and little-known visual forms.