Cinema: Images and Issues

"Whenever I'm asked what I enjoy most about my profession, it does not take me time to respond that I'm here, because I like writing and because I love Hindi cinema. And my job provides me with an opportunity to dabble in both.

Reproduced in the book are fragmented frames of cinema. Some explored as academic study, while some retained as stubborn memories that refuse to fade. The collective images celebrate an undying passion for the fascinating medium.

The concerns for the issues, I admit, came in much later. After one had sufficient exposure and the confidence to disagree and debate. One discovered that same films evoked different responses and interpretations during different decades of growing up. And perhaps that's the essence of cinema. To break illusions and conjure new images. Compiled in the book are some scattered observations and impressions from an editor's notebook."

About the Author:

Bhawana Somaaya began he career in journalism in the late '70s while studying for her BA Degree in Psychology. Commencing with Free Press Journal as chief reporter, she moved to Super as a special correspondent while completing LLB at the Government Law College. In '81 she joined Movie as an assistant editor and was promoted in '85 as its joint editor. In '89 Chitralekha asked her to launch their first English publication g. She is the recipient of 1990's Mahila Shiromani Award. She has contributed columns to Sunday Observer, Afternoon, Janmabhoomi Pravasi, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, The Pioneer and the Newstime. She has written four books - Amitabh Bachchan - The Legend, published by Macmillan Publishers, New Delhi, Salaam Bollywood by Spantech and Lancers, London, Take -25 by Sambhav Publishers. She is currently the editor of Screen, the film weekly of the Indian Express Group and has recently released her fourth book, The Story So Far published by Indian Express Group.