Film stars are a ubiquitous presence in Indian public life today. While all film industries in the world create and are dependent on stars to reach audiences, in the Indian context they have been a visible presence in politics as well. This course examines how stars are produced by cultural industries, how they work in films and the world at large. Students will be introduced to discussions on stardom in the disciplines of film theory, sociology and political science. The general features of stardom will be illustrated with the help of examples from Indian and non-Indian film industries and cultures. Case studies from Bombay and South Indian cinemas will be analysed. 

The objective of the course is provide a conceptual-critical tool-kit to journalists, art practitioners, cultural critics, college/university teachers, academic researchers and creative industry managers, who encounter stars in their line of work. Participants will be required to make brief presentations and take active part in classroom discussions. They are encouraged to bring to class films and other material relevant to the course. Assessment will be on the basis of a mini-research study undertaken by participants. Saturdays 10-1.
For specific course related enquiries write to srinivas@cscs.res.in