Dancing with the Nation by Ruth Vanita
Ruth's book on Courtesan's in Indian films is fascinating. Just like her other books that focus on hidden or erased aspects of Indian history, this book lists the contribution of Courtesans in Indian cinema.
It is clearly a work of great scholarship. The number of films she has researched is over 200. However, it is her enthusiasm and passion that kept me hooked to the book. Unlike many academics, Ruth writes elegant and accessible English.
There are two problems that I encountered while reading this book, but this may be due to my own prejudice, and may not necessarily be the fault of the book. First, there are too many films analyzed. And since I have seen most of the films, it is a bit tedious to read the stories again ( however, I loved those instances where she commented on films in the context of her theme). Second, in order to appreciate the book, one should have some knowledge of Indian films.
The book also reveals how nation-states in their enthusiasm to build a selective imaginary of nationhood conveniently forget and even suppress certain histories. In her previous works, she wrote about such erasures. For instance, she wrote a great book with Salim Kidwai on gay and lesbian histories in pre-colonial India.
I like the queer dimensions of her work that disturb the status-quo in Indian society.
It is clearly a work of great scholarship. The number of films she has researched is over 200. However, it is her enthusiasm and passion that kept me hooked to the book. Unlike many academics, Ruth writes elegant and accessible English.
There are two problems that I encountered while reading this book, but this may be due to my own prejudice, and may not necessarily be the fault of the book. First, there are too many films analyzed. And since I have seen most of the films, it is a bit tedious to read the stories again ( however, I loved those instances where she commented on films in the context of her theme). Second, in order to appreciate the book, one should have some knowledge of Indian films.
The book also reveals how nation-states in their enthusiasm to build a selective imaginary of nationhood conveniently forget and even suppress certain histories. In her previous works, she wrote about such erasures. For instance, she wrote a great book with Salim Kidwai on gay and lesbian histories in pre-colonial India.
I like the queer dimensions of her work that disturb the status-quo in Indian society.
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