Spring 2026
Beyond Bollywood: Cultural Identity in South Asian Cinema
Dates: January 27, 2026 - May 14, 2026Day/Time: Tuesday; Thursday 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM EDT
Level: 200-Level
Certificate: Global Studies
Instructor: Fahmidul Haq, Bard College
South Asian Cinema is nearly synonymous with Indian Cinema to the international audience, though other South Asian countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal have developed strong film cultures too. The objective of the course is mapping the cine profile of the South Asian countries and examining Bollywood’s hegemonic presence in the region. This course will study some cases across a range of South Asian cinema cultures by exploring their common as well as different cultural backgrounds, historiography, and sociopolitical realities. Topics will include both historical and contemporary cinematic practices in South Asian countries. The course will also enable students to understand how cinema as a medium shapes the cultural identity of the region by exploring the following topics: the Partition of India in South Asian cinema, Bollywood's cultural influence in other South Asian countries, the portrayal of Kashmir in Indian cinema, and new and independent cinematic practices, both parallel to and within the mainstream industry.
Credits: 4 US / 8 ECTS