As India celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of its independence, much praise was lavished on its emergence as a major player on the global stage. Its economic transformation and geopolitical significance as a nuclear power are matched by its globally resonant cultural resources.

This book explores India’s rich popular culture. Chapters provide illuminating insights into various aspects of the social, cultural, economic and political realities of contemporary globalised India. Structured thematically and drawing on a broad range of academic disciplines, the book deals with critical issues including:

Film, television and TV soaps

- Folk theatre, Mahabharata-Ramayana, myths, performance, ideology and religious nationalism

Music, dance and fashion

- Comics, cartoons, photographs, posters and advertising

Cyberculture and the software industry

- Indian feminisms

Sports and tourism

- Food culture

Offering comprehensive coverage of the emerging discipline of popular culture in India, this book is essential reading for courses on Indian popular culture and a useful resource for more general courses in the field of cultural studies, media studies, history, literary studies and communication studies.