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Questions and Answers
What is Parallel Cinema?
What is Parallel Cinema?
- A type of Bollywood commercial cinema known for its song-and-dance routines.
- A type of Pakistani cinema known for its action movies.
- A type of Hollywood blockbuster cinema known for its special effects.
- A film movement in Indian cinema that originated in West Bengal in the 1950s. (correct)
What was the inspiration behind the Parallel Cinema movement?
What was the inspiration behind the Parallel Cinema movement?
- German Expressionism
- Italian Neorealism (correct)
- French New Wave
- American Independent Cinema
Who were some of the acclaimed directors of the Parallel Cinema movement?
Who were some of the acclaimed directors of the Parallel Cinema movement?
- Gulzar, Shyam Benegal, and Govind Nihalani (correct)
- James Cameron, Ridley Scott, and Christopher Nolan
- Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Martin Scorsese
- Michael Bay, Zack Snyder, and Joss Whedon
What was the contribution of Adoor Gopalakrishnan to the Indian New Wave?
What was the contribution of Adoor Gopalakrishnan to the Indian New Wave?
Which of the following films is an example of a parallel cinema film that garnered commercial success?
Which of the following films is an example of a parallel cinema film that garnered commercial success?
What is the reason for the decline of the Parallel Cinema movement in the 1990s?
What is the reason for the decline of the Parallel Cinema movement in the 1990s?
What is Mumbai noir?
What is Mumbai noir?
Who is Satyajit Ray?
Who is Satyajit Ray?
What is the Apu Trilogy?
What is the Apu Trilogy?
Who was the cinematographer for The Apu Trilogy?
Who was the cinematographer for The Apu Trilogy?
Flashcards
Parallel Cinema
Parallel Cinema
A film movement in Indian cinema, originating in West Bengal in the 1950s, that prioritized serious content, realism, and rejected mainstream song-and-dance routines.
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Indian filmmaker known for directing the Apu Trilogy and other acclaimed films.
The Apu Trilogy
The Apu Trilogy
The three films directed by Satyajit Ray: Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956), and Apur Sansar (1959).
Subrata Mitra
Subrata Mitra
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Swayamvaram (1972)
Swayamvaram (1972)
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Parallel Cinema features
Parallel Cinema features
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Parallel Cinema decline
Parallel Cinema decline
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Parallel Cinema focus
Parallel Cinema focus
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Origins of Parallel Cinema
Origins of Parallel Cinema
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Study Notes
- Parallel Cinema is a film movement in Indian cinema that originated in West Bengal in the 1950s.
- It was an alternative to mainstream commercial Indian cinema, known for its serious content, realism, and rejection of song-and-dance routines.
- The movement was inspired by Italian Neorealism and produced internationally acclaimed filmmakers such as Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, and Ritwik Ghatak.
- Indian independent films were frequently in competition for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival throughout the 1950s and early 1960s.
- The movement gained momentum in the 1970s and 1980s, with directors like Gulzar, Shyam Benegal, and Govind Nihalani becoming the main directors of Indian art cinema.
- Parallel cinema gave careers to a new breed of young actors, including Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, and Naseeruddin Shah.
- Adoor Gopalakrishnan extended the Indian New Wave to Malayalam cinema with his maiden feature film Swayamvaram in 1972.
- Malayalam cinema experienced its own 'Golden Age' in the 1980s and early 1990s, with acclaimed filmmakers such as Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Shaji N. Karun, and T. V. Chandran.
- Some art films have also garnered commercial success, such as Bimal Roy's Do Bigha Zamin (1953) and Guru Dutt's Pyaasa (1957).
- The movement is an important study of the contemporary Indian society and is used by scholars and historians to map the changing demographics and socio-economic as well as political temperament of the Indian populace.
- Parallel cinema refers to independent, artistic films produced in India.
- It emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, influenced by Italian and French cinema.
- Satyajit Ray's debut film Pather Panchali (1955) was a major influence on the movement.
- Other notable directors in the movement include Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak, and Bimal Roy.
- Parallel cinema rejected the regressive worldview of mainstream cinema and focused on realistic portrayals of social issues.
- The movement declined in the 1990s due to rising production costs and a lack of distribution and exhibition.
- However, there has been a resurgence of off-beat films produced in Bollywood, including Mumbai noir.
- Some modern examples of parallel cinema include Utsab (2000), Yuva (2004), and Ship of Theseus (2013).
- Aamir Khan has helped introduce parallel cinema to mainstream audiences with his production studio.
- The movement has had a global impact, with Satyajit Ray's films influencing filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Wes Anderson.
- Satyajit Ray was an Indian filmmaker and screenwriter.
- He is known for his work in the Bengali film industry.
- His most famous work is the Apu Trilogy.
- The trilogy consists of Pather Panchali, Aparajito, and Apur Sansar.
- Ray's other notable works include Charulata, Jalsaghar, and Nayak.
- He received numerous awards for his work, including an honorary Academy Award in 1992.
- Ray also had an influence on cinematography techniques, including bounce lighting.
- His films have been included in various best movies lists, including Time magazine's "All-TIME" 100 best movies list.
- Ray was ranked No. 7 in the Sight & Sound Critics' Poll's list of "Top 10 Directors" of all time.
- Subrata Mitra, the cinematographer for The Apu Trilogy, also had an important influence on cinematography techniques.
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