What is cinema and how do social scientists view it critically? Why is cinema important to our understanding of modern society? What does cinema mean to a film crazy society like India? What is the past, present and possible future of Indian cinema? How has Indian cinema shaped Indian mentalities and how has it been influenced by ideologies present in Indian society? This edited collection of sixteen essays by distinguished scholars answers these questions. The book is aimed at cinema scholars and anyone who is interested in looking at cinema as a serious social expression in a changing world. Anirudh Deshpande is Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Social Science, University of Delhi, Delhi. Anagha Kamble is Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Mumbai, Mumbai.