THEODORE BASKARAN weaves the magic and matter of South Indian films into a rich tapestry of readable essays. They cover such topics as early cinema in the south, trade unionism in South Indian film industry, and the need for historicizing southern cinema. Baskaran also investigates how Tamil cinema is struggling to get free from the legacy of company drama and the persistence of stage features. While his sharper focus rests on Tamil cinema, this collection will interest historians and students of Indian film, and the general readers who look for a sprightly introduction to the world of South Indian films. Chapter titles include.

• Cinema as a source material for history
• Cinema house as public space
• Adaptations from literature