GS 360 - Cross-Cultural Encounters: Shakespeare in Bollywood and Masala Films (4)

Masala means “spice mixture.” In this course we will be introduced to contemporary adaptations and translations of several Shakespearean plays into the masala films of Bollywood (Hindi cinema). Through this cross-cultural juxtaposition, we will examine how early modern English plays get transformed into spaces to articulate questions about nationalism, the caste system, gender roles, religious and sectarian conflict in the diverse socio-cultural context of the Indian subcontinent. What are the dynamics and stakes in such 21st century re-visionings and retellings? How do these masala films alter or reinforce our understanding of the plays and vice-versa?
Inquiries like these will lead us to a better understanding of how we can think critically through Shakespeare and along with the polyphonic, sumptuous visual feasts that are the masala films of Indian cinema. Spring.