Access Info


  • South Asia
    (Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tibet, Nepal, Sri Lanka)
  • South Asian Diaspora

  • Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma
  • Indonesia
  • Australia/Melanesia
  • Malaysia
  • Philippines


  • Asian American Studies
  • South and East Asian cinema - films by South/Southeast Asian filmmakers
  • The Movies, Race, and Ethnicity - a listing of movies with South/Southeast Asian diaspora themes
  • General Movies listing - American and European films set in South/Southeast Asia
  • Sixties - documentaries and movies on the Vietnamese War


  • South Asian Women (SAWNET) Movie Page
  • Columbia University Libraries listing of South Asian video catalogs
  • University of Wisconsin South/Southeast Asia Video Archive
  • South Asian Videos, University of Virginia Library

    South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tibet, Nepal, Sri Lanka)

    Absorption in Brahman.
    A short history of India is followed by the story of the development of Hinduism in that country. Includes a discussion of the Hindu religion and beliefs. 25 min. Video/C 2466

    Adhi Adhuri Jhooti Sacchai: 4 Skits on Communal Stereotypes.
    Puppets and short skits examine stereotypes of Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities. Accompanied by printed study guide in English: "Partly true and wholly false: a study guide on communal stereotypes." New Delhi, Indian Social Institute, 1986. 26 min. Video/C 4726

    Ayodhya: A City in Flames.
    On the police action in Ayodhya, Faizabad, during the foundation stone laying ceremony (shilanyas) for the proposed Ram Temple, on 30th Oct. and 2nd Nov. 1990. In Hindi. PAL format. Video/C 3906

    Afghanistan: Words and Deeds.
    Through a compilation of footage the history of the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan is sketched. Video/C 1340

    Ahmedabad: Life of a City in India.
    Traces the history of the city as Hindu rulers were replaced by Muslim rulers, who, in turn, were replaced by British colonial powers. The film shows Ahmedabad today as a modern industrial and administrative center. 30 min. Video/C 3379

    Ajanabee.
    Director Shakti Samanta. A railroad station agent harbors a mysterious woman fleeing from pursuers whom she claims are trying to take the jewels she has in her possession. In Hindi with English subtitles. 123 min. 999:2069

    Ajit (The Unconquerable).
    Film is a close-up view of an eight-year-old boy who works as a domestic in a middle class Calcutta household. He is shown at his daily tasks--sweeping, cleaning, laundry, and caring for his employer's children. There is no time for school but when he is interviewed, Ajit says he is fortunate for in this household he is given ample food as wages, while in the countryside he often went hungry. 28 min. Video/C 4915

    Ajuba Dance and Drama Co.
    Introduces a troupe of popular entertainers in North India. Performing in private compounds, factory yards, and mango groves, they stage a type of theatre known as Nautanki, an amalgam of music, dance, comedy routines, and drama. Nautanki draws as easily from the arts of royal courts as it does from the latest Bombay feature films. 20 min. Video/C 3380

    Ancient Futures: Learning From Ladakh.
    Describes traditional Ladakhi culture and the change brought by tourism and development. Also examines the disturbing direction of Western society and some thoughts on the lessons that the West can learn from traditional cultures. 60 min. Video/C 4383

    Antarnaad (Inner Voice).
    The film is about the true life experiences of two villages and the trasformation that occured through Swadhyaya activity. 160 min. Video/C 3703

    Assignment: India.
    Profiles the country of India through an exploration of such topics as Gandhi's legacy, internal strife within the Muslim faction in India and India's Sikh minority, child labor practices in the carpet industry, silk weaving, bonded laborers in rock quarries, women's search for greater independence, and the pollution of the Ganges River. 60 min. Video/C 4258

    Bandit Queen.
    Directed by Shekhar Kapur, 1995. A dramatization of the life story of the female dacoit,Phoolan Devi. Born of low caste in the Chambal River Valley of India, 11 year-old Phoolan is sold into marriage with a man 20 years her senior. Challenging her fate, she escapes and falls in with a pack of ruthless bandits but the political structure of the male-dominated gang comes with its own set of brutal humiliations, and Phoolan must struggle to rise above a culture determined to bring her down, in a bloody coup that electrified a nation. 119 min. 999:1441

    Bangladesh.
    A documentary on how one of the poorest nations, with a population of 120 million, managed to creatively tackle the enormous challenge of educating its many children. The program highlights government efforts to make schools more accessible, particularly to girls. One compelling story features Shumi, the daughter of a peddler, who longs for an education and a better life than her parents. 29 min. Video/C 6112

    Bangladesh Nationhood--Symbols and Shadows.
    A documentary on the struggle of the new nation of Bangladesh to define itself. Reveals, through a series of interviews with peasants, students, businessmen, and religious and political leaders, those conflicts within Bangladesh society that both defined and limited Sheikh Mujib's years in power. 42 min. Video/C 3776

    Bearing the Heat: Mother Goddess Worship in South India.
    Documents the Hindu celebrations which center around the mother goddess worship of South India. 1994? 60 min. Video/C 5582

    Being Muslim in India.
    Presents Islam and the Quran as seen through the lives and perspective of families and individuals in India. 49 min. Video/C 3775

    Bhavai Folk Theater of Gujarat, India.
    Performances of Bhavai, the medieval form of ancient Indian dramatic art, interspersed with commentary by performers, directors and educators. 24 min. Video/C 4051

    Bhopal: The Second Tragedy
    More than ten years after "the world's biggest chemical disaster," there remain unresolved serious issues of unpaid damages, legal accountability, environmental reform and institutional failure on the part of Union Carbide, the chemical industry, and the US and Indian governments. 54 min. Video/C 4587

    The Birth of Pakistan.
    Traces the history of Pakistan from its beginning as a Muslim separatist movement, its independence as a political entity, the separation of Bangladesh, the battle resulting in the Indus Water Treaty and its ongoing struggle to establish and maintain a democratic government. Includes the history of its political leaders: Mohamed Ali Jinnah, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq, and Benazir Bhutto. 1990. 20 min. Video/C 5175

    Bombay: Our City
    Four million slum dwellers make up half of Bombay's population. Although they are the city's workforce--industrial laborers, construction workers, domestic servants--they are denied city utilities like electricity, sanitation, and water. 58 min. Video/C 3163

    Bridge of Democracy
    In Urdu with addresses in English. Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's visit to the United States of America (June 5th to June 10th, 1989). Video/C 3902

    Calcutta.
    Film, directed by Louis Malle, documenting the minute details of individual lives and situations of poverty in the overpopulated and impoverished city of Calcutta. 99 min. Video/C 3602

    Catalysts of Change.
    Three programs concerning human rights, sustenance of the environment and the fulfillment of basic human needs in India. In Search of Shelter examines the housing conditions of the lowest caste in Calcutta. The Plough and the Sickle explores agriculture and sharecropping in India. Fringe Dwellers examines the social and economic conditions of the indigenous peoples of India. 1988? 85 min. Video/C 4728

    Caste at Birth.
    Written, directed, and produced by Mira Hamermesh. In India there are 150 million "untouchables" who live a segregated life. They cannot own land or get an education and are condemned from birth to the most menial jobs. While the government has tried to improve the condition of the untouchables, these attempts have met with strong resistance from upper caste Hindus who profit from this source of cheap labor. However, a few leaders have arisen from their ranks, who, in the face of overwhelming odds, are trying to bring about change. 52 min. Video/C 4913

    Chatisagarhi Sangavari.
    Film on the social life of the Chattisagarh region of India. In Chattisgarhi. Video/C 4553

    Chutney in Yuh Soca: A Multicultural Mix.
    Chutney in Yuh Soca: a film showing the interaction of the East Indian and African populations of Trinidad and Tobago through the popular music "Chutney" which is an combination of Indian folk tunes with the tempo and spice of the Caribbean. The Gospel Truth: A Black family in Great Britain reaffirms their values and family cohesiveness through the singing of gospel music. Songs For Our Daughters: West Indian women in Britain discuss the way they pass their heritage and culture on to their mixed race daughters. 1996. 37 min. Video/C 5075

    Classical Indian Dance.
    Presents classical dances from India, demonstrating the range of this art form with its combination of mime, gesture, facial expression and body movement, all executed within a traditional framework rich in allegory.

    Contents: Odissi / Dancer, Ranjna Gauhar. -- Bharatanatyam "Vernam" / Alarmel Valli. -- Kathak / Durga Lal. -- Bharatanatyam "Todayam" / Chitralekha Bolar, Indra Thigarajah. -- Kutchipudi / J. Venkatachalapati. -- Kathak / Nahid Siddiqui. -- Bharatanatyam "Vernam" / Alarmel Valli. -- Bharatanatyam "Ardhaneshwaram" / Chitra Sundaram. -- Bharatanatyam "Tillana" / J. Venkatachalapati. -- Odissi "Pallavi" / Ranjna Ganhar. -- Kathak / Durga Lal. -- Bharatanatyam / Chitralekha Bolar. -- Kathak "Tarana" / Nahid Siddiqui. 60 min. Video/C 4577

    The Colonial Idea. ( Age of Uncertainty)
    Features economist John Kenneth Galbraith discussing some of the ideas and views on economics that are presented in his book entitled The age of uncertainty. Focuses on colonialism and the colonial adventure using India and Great Britain as the prime example. Presents an in-depth look at the British intervention, control and domination of India and finally the removal of the colonial government. 60 min. Video/C 480

    Community. (Woman's Place)
    The Dramatic story of villagers in Bangladesh who have transformed themselves from beggars to business people and simultaneously established positive new roles and relationships for men and women. One women's group now owns a rice mill, another makes roof tiles, and a men's group runs a fish farm. The money raised is held collectively to benefit the entire community. 1995. 24 min. Video/C 4599

    Compassion in Exile: The Story of the 14th Dalai Lama.
    A portrait of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. 60 min. Video/C 3329

    Consecration of a Temple.
    The Sri Venkateswara Hindu temple in Pittsburgh, is consecrated in a traditional 5 day ceremony in 1977.This film documents the final stages of the consecration of the Hindu temple built by members of that city's Indian-American community. Examines the temple's shrines and statues and their significance within Hinduism and discusses the community's efforts to preserve their language and culture in the face of pressures to be assimilated. 25 min. Video/C 3777

    The Cosmic Dance of Shiva.
    Celebrates various images of Shiva, the Hindu Lord of dance, as expressed in ritual dance. approx. 60 min. Video/C 2616

    Courts and Councils
    Shows the traditional panchayat, or caste council, that meets to hear and resolve conflicts and the official state system of district courts, influenced by British law, where civil cases (chiefly land disputes) are handled. 30 min. Video/C 4261

    Dadi's Family.
    A portrait of a farming family in India which focuses on Dadi, the grandmother, who manages a large household of sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren and tries to hold the extended family together despite external and internal changes. Looks at the role and lives of women, who become members of their husband's family upon marriage. 59 min. Video/C 347

    Dalai Lama's & Tulku's.
    A presentation of the history of Tibet and Buddhism as it developed in that country. 48 min. Video/C 2469

    Dalai Lama: A Portrait in the First Person
    An interview with the current Dalai Lama, Bstan-dzin-rgya-mtsho, winner of the 1989 Noble Peace Prize, who discusses his religious and social beliefs, including such topics as nonviolence and Tibet. 24 min. Video/C 4589

    Dalda 13: A Portrait of Homai Vyarawalla
    Profiles the life and work of retired Indian photographer Homai Vyarawalla. In a country where women are expected to be submissive, Mrs. Vyarawalla was toting a large camera on her sari draped shoulder, always pushing to where the action was. Her photographs documented the death of Gandhi, the visits of dignitaries such as Ho Chi Minh, Queen Elizabeth and Jackie Kennedy. She gave up her career out of frustration when security restrictions governing female press photographers limited her access. In this film she shares her impressions of her work and the luminaries she photographed. 1995. 23 min. Video/C 4924

    Democracy in Crisis
    Surveys the recent events which led to the current religious strife that is tearing India apart. Covers the 20 months following Rajiv Gandhi's ouster in 1989, through his assassination and the violent and chaotic electionwhich followed it. 50 min Video/C 3047

  • Democracy in Crisis website (First Run/Icarus Films)

    • Destination--Sri Lanka.
    Peace Corps workers describe daily life in Sri Lanka, as well as the history, religious practices, diversity of ethnic groups and variety of languages which create this complex society. 15 min. Video/C 4736

    Diamond Path.
    A history and geography of Nepal is followed by a discussion of Buddhism and Hinduism in the context of the history of Nepal and surrounding countries. 36 min. Video/C 2468

    Division of Hearts.
    Ordinary people tell of their experiences during the 1947 partition of India. 57 min. Video/C 1879

    The Dynasty: The Nehru-Gandhi Story.
    A two part documentary chronicling India's four generations of the Nehru-Gandhi family leaders, using interviews and extensive historical footage to tell the story of their ties through blood, sacrifice andpower.

    The first part chronicles the lives of Mahatma Gandhi, Motilal Nehru and his son Jawaharlal Nehru, the ending of British colonial rule over India, the division of Pakistan and India and the political and social history of India up through the death of Prime Minister Nehru in 1964. 1997.

    The second segment chronicles the career of Indira Gandhi, her assassination in 1984 and the death of her younger son Sanjay. Her elder son Rajiv Gandhi reluctantly accepted his mother's "throne" as prime minister and was assassinated in 1991. His widow Sonia, has twice been nominated as president by her party and twice she has refused. Rajiv's son and daughter are as yet too young to enter politics, but India keeps a watchful eye. 90 min. each installment Video/C 5705-5076

    The Effect of TV on Culture in India.
    This program focuses on the cultural effects of television broadcasting in India. It examines the rapid rise of satellite TV and cable channels and discusses their role in altering Indian perceptions of caste, class, and gender. Interviews with Indian academics and representatives from TV and film are combined with specific information on TV viewing habits in urban and rural locations in India. 30 min. Video/C 6114

    Ehsas.
    Television serial dealing with the problems faced by a Pakistani father in bringing up his two minor children after the death of their mother. Videocassette release of a film originally produced in 1987 or 1988. 133 min. Video/C 3739

    The Family Krishnappa
    Depicts one day in the life of a typical rural family and village in Southern India. 18 min. Video/C 4259

    Father, Son and Holy War.
    A film examining the connection between religion, violence and male identity in India today and exploring the possibility that a key to the psychology of violence against "the enemy" is male insecurity, itself an inevitable product of the very construction of "manhood". 120 min. Video/C 3638

  • Review from South Asian Women Network (SAWNET)

    • Fehmul Quran.
    Readings from the Koran and teachings on the proper understanding of the Koran by Maulana Kausar Niazi. In Urdu. 85 min. Video/C 4729

    The Fifth Schedule.
    A discussion of the effects of the intrusion of non-tribals into tribal habitat in the Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh which has resulted in large scale alienation of tribal land, deforestation, and ecological degredation. Also examines the initiatives for development, both by governmental voluntary sources. 199? 44 min. PAL format Video/C 470

    Footprint of the Buddha - India
    Ronald Eyre visits Sri Lanka and India to discover the type of Buddhism practiced throughout Southeast Asia. Includes talks with monks, school children, novices, and housewives who describe their own religious experiences and discuss the high moral standards demanded by Buddhism. 52 min. Video/C 192

    Four Holy Men: Renunciation in Hindu Society.
    A documentary on four sadhus: a mission hospital administrator, a traditional guru who heads a monastery, a recluse with no organizational ties, and a scholar who is also founder of a national political party. Interviews with the sadhus and with lay people reveal a wide range of opinions on the roles of sadhus in Hindu society today. In Hindi and Bengali, with English subtitles. 37 min. Video/C 4140

    Fourth Islamic Summit: Speech by Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq, 17th January 1984.
    Speech by President General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq (Pakistan) at Fourth Islamic Summit in Islamabad on 17th January, 1984. Video/C 3801

    4 Skits on Communal Stereotypes.
    Accompanied by printed study guide in English: "Partly true and wholly false: a study guide on communal stereotypes." New Delhi, Indian Social Institute, 1986. Puppets and short skits examine stereotypes of Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities. In Hindi. 1986 M-PAL format. 26 min. Video/C 4726

    Free to Sing?: The Music of Suman Chatterjee.
    Suman Chatterjee is a Bengali political singer from Calcutta whose political stance, critical of the right as well as the left, has made him a persecuted and an immensely popular singer at the same time. This film which contains interviews with Suman and citizens of Calcutta, poets, journalists, artists, intellectuals and fellow musicians is also generously interlaced with song sequences and scenes from Calcutta. 56 min. Video/C 4715

    Freedom Now, 1947 (The People's Century )
    In 1947, 160 years of British rule came to an end as India became the world's largest democracy, inspiring the fight for freedom on another continent. This film talks with the people who witnessed and participated in the struggle for independence in India and Africa. While Mohandas Gandhi showed the world how the masses could successfully defy their imperial masters, his example spurred others on: European empires in Africa and Asia began to crumble, and in short order, Ghana, Kenya, Algeria, Mozambique, and dozens more would win their freedom. 1998. 56 min. Video/C 5553

    From the Diary of a Genetic Counsellor.
    The program takes up two cases of Down's Syndrome with different genetic profiles (Trisomy 21 and Translocation 14-21) and traces the counseling process involved in each case. The aim is to highlight counseling strategies in India that could be adopted to help clients come to terms and deal with the disorder. 199? 30 min. PAL format Video/C 469

    Gandhi.
    This film follows Gandhi's life from young lawyer through his historic struggle to free India from colonial rule. Winner of 8 Academy Awards. An all-star cast headed by Ben Kingsley. 188 min. 999:203

    Given to Dance
    An exploration of the lives of the last Hindu temple dancers in India...women who were regarded as brides of the god and consecrated to dance. Includes interviews with former temple dancers, a study of their dance techniques and of Odissi dance as it is now performed on stage in India. 57 min. Video/C 4255

    The Ganges(Great Rivers of the World)
    Tells the historical, geographical, and human story of the "mother of rivers," of the Aryan civilization that shaped much of Western civilization, the birthplace of Hinduism, the holy of holies of nearly a billion people. The Ganges flows from the heights of Tibet to water a fourth of the Indian subcontinent. 45 min. Video/C 4580

    The Great Awakening: Rise of Buddhism in India
    A short history of the life of Siddhartha Gautama is followed by a discussion of Buddhism and its development in India. Contents: Great awakening, Buddhism in India. Contents: 1. Buddha. -- 2. Dharma. -- 3. Sangha. 45 min. Video/C 2467

    Great Benazir Bhutto.
    On the life and activities of Benazir Bhutto, prime minister of Pakistan, including footage of her public speeches. Closes with a 10 minute press conference in English. 1994. 180 min. Video/C 4727

    Harvest of Rain (Wealth of Nations. People and the Environment)
    One of the basic principles of water management is to conserve water where it falls. But India is chasing hydraulic nightmares: big dams and canals while an age-old wisdom lies forgotten. This video examines India's traditional water harvesting systems, wandering though Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, to illuminate a profound science of the people. The film analyses a wide variety of water management systems as a function of differing ecological terrains. 1995. PAL format. 48 min. Video/C 5660

    Hello Photo.
    Nina Davenport spent one year travelling throughout India, capturing images of the people and the country few Westerners ever see: a jute factory straight out of the industrial age, a mosque decorated with erotic sculptures, cows stuck in traffic jams, elephants blessing people, scenes of a traveling circus, inside a school for the blind, and holy people possessed by spirits. We return now and then to the sets of Bombay's thriving film industry and to the streets themselves in a unique visual experience of India. 55 min. Video/C 4398

    Herra Puntila Sri Lankassa
    A surprising and touching documentary of a Finnish theater director who travels to Sri Lanka and gathers professional and amateur Sri Lankan actors to create a fine production of Bertolt Brecht's Herr Puntila and his servant Matti. 52 min. Video/C 4234

    Hindu Ascetics
    A documentary illustrating the rituals and practices of India's holy men--sadhus, fakirs and yogi--including ecstatic dancing, meditation, and mind-over-body feats designed to develop the power of concentration. Film also examines the connection of the rituals of these ascetic eremites to ancient Hindu and Buddhist rituals. 1994. 44 min Video/C 4588

    Hinduism: The Elephant God.
    A discussion of the major tenets, rituals and gods of Hinduism. 19 min. Video/C 6110

    Hinduism and Buddhism ( Wisdom of Faith; 1).
    This program explores the two great religions to come from India. Huston Smith uncovers the mysteries of multiphonic chanting among Tibetan lamas and meditates 8 hours a day with a Zen master. 58 min. Video/C 4581

    His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama: Human Rights and Moral Practice.
    Documents a talk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the University of California at Berkeley on the subject of human rights and moral practice. This talk marks one of the rare occasions on which the Dalai Lama has spoken so forthcomingly on concrete political themes such as birth control, the arms trade, global economy and the recent Gulf crisis. He stresses that a peaceful, loving society will grow out of spiritual searching and human compassion. 1996. 35 min. Video/C 5018

    Holi Hey!: A Festival of Love, Color, and Life.
    An indepth examination of the annual North India Spring festival of Holi as celebrated in the city of Banaras (Varanasi, Kashi). The film dramatizes how once each year the festival unites neighborhoods, breaches the barriers of age, caste, social rank and religious affiliation and calls all to share in unity and merriment. A respected Banaras brahman provides commentary recounting several explanations for the Holi festival. 1996. 54 min. Video/C 5583

    Home.
    Filmed entirely in India, this film explores the ideas of homeland, identity and resettlement as seen through the choices and dreams of two women. An East Indian American woman, who immigrated to theUnited States as a college student, returns to India ten years later to work through the conflicts she experienced with her family and to come to an understanding and acceptance of her Indian identity. 37 min. Video/C 3236

    Homecoming (Glasnost Film Festival; 8).
    Veterans of the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan returned home with unresolved feelings about a demoralizing and unpopular war. The first film to document the human impact of the Afghan war. 17 min. Video/C 1597

    Hunza: The Legendary Land.
    Presents the breath-taking beauty of the snow-capped mountains of the Karakoram Range and examines the architecture, folk culture, and traditions of the Wakhi and Burusho people of Hunza in Northern Pakistan. 38 min. Video/C 3736

    I Am a Sufi, I Am a Muslim.
    The program travels to India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Macedonia to explore exactly what is Sufism and observe how it is practiced in various parts of the world today. Among the many aspects of Sufism featured in the program are the whirling dervishes of Turkey, who find God through ecstasy; ecstatic fakirs in Macedonia, where there is a big revival in popular Sufism; and the vital role of music in Sufism in India and Pakistan. The program also features Nusrat Ali Khan, the most famous performer of Qawali music. 1994. 52 min. Video/C 5174

    Identity: The Construction of Selfhood.
    Explores the gamut of modes in which identities are produced, circulated and consumed within the modern urban Indian culture. Traversing a multi-cultural terrain inhabited by Paul Klee, A. K. Ramanujan, popular television commercials, the writings of riot-affected children, Michel Foucault, and poet Sant Kabir, this film is an invitation to examine the praxis of identity as a site of resistance and change. 1994. 20 min. PAL format Video/C 467

    I'm British But--
    Using Bhangra and Bangla music and the testimonies of young British Asians, the video uncovers a defiant popular culture--a synthesis--part Asian, part British. 30 min. Video/C 3827


  • NAATA catalog description

    • Images of India: The Land & People
    This program explores India's diversity in her land, culture, religion, history, and daily life. 32 min. Video/C 6108

    In Memory of Friends.
    Documents the violence and terror in Punjab, India - a land torn apart by religious fundamentalists and a repressive government. Focuses on the unlikely martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, a young socialist hanged by the British in 1931 at the age of 23. 60 min. Video/C 3098

    In the Name of God.
    Discusses the conflict in Ayodhya (Faizabad, India) between Hinduism and Islam and the drive to build a Hindu temple to Ram where a mosque currently exists. 97 min. Video/C 2612

    Incarnate Buddha Kings of the Dragon Country: Buddhism in Bhutan.
    The focus of this presentation is on the development of Buddhism in Bhutan, which shown to be an integral part of the history of that country. 37 min. Video/C 2470

    India. (Emerging Powers; 2)
    Examines India's transformation from socialism to capitalism, from poverty to prosperity. Looks at India's liberalization program, large industrial base, nuclear energy program, and market reforms. Includes interviews with entrepreneurs such as Abdul Rehman, who makes satellite dishes, and Arya Bhattacherjee, founder of India's first computer chip design company and a tour of Bajaj Auto, India's largest scooter maker and a visit to the Bombay Stock Exhange. 50 min. Video/C 4305

    India After Independence.
    This program covers the anxious years since India became independent in 1947: the rioting and bloodshed of the first few weeks of independence; Gandhi's assassination and its aftermath; India's invastion of Portuguese Goa and clash with Chinese forces along the northeast border; the death of Nehru; the war in Kashmir; the accession of Indira Gandhi; the creation of Bangladesh; violence by and against Sikhs; the events at the Golden Temple in Amritsar and the assassination of Indira Gandhi. 21 min. Video/C 4582

    India Cabaret.
    Examines the rules and double standards of India's patriarchal society. Focuses on a group of female strippers who work in a nightclub in the suburbs of Bombay and the customers who lead traditional family lives. Comparisions are drawn between the lives of the cabaret dancers and those of the "virtuous Indian wife." Film concludes as one of the dancers leaves the cabaret life to marry and become "respectable". 60 min. Video/C 2568

  • Nair, Mira. "India Cabaret: Reflections and Reactions." Discourse: Journal for Theoretical Studies in Media and Culture, vol. 8. 1986-1987 Fall-Winter. pp: 58-71.

    • India, Environment & Industry. (Geographical Eye Over Asia)
    India's fast economic growth is creating pressures on the environment that are hard to resist. This program looks at the Dehra Dun Valley, where the mining of limestone for steel production has led to hazardous environmental pollution. Will the development in Dehra Dun be a model for the future? Can India afford to protect the quality of its environment? Can it afford not to? 1996. 20 min. Video/C 4585

    India, Farming & Development. (Geographical Eye Over Asia)
    Explores the changes in traditional farming in India by examining the case of a farmer and his family who live in the Trivandrum District of Kerala in the south of India. Here, farmers are moving away from the traditional cultivation of rice, to grow cash crops like spices and pineapples. The reasons are complex, but provide a fascinating insight into understanding farming in India. 1996. 20 min. Video/C 4586

    India: From Moghuls to Independence.
    Covers the history of India from the time of Genghis Khan's first extension of his domain beyond China, through the Mogul Empire to independence from the British Empire. 42 min. Video/C 4578

    India: The Empire of the Spirit (Legacy.).
    Ancient India is with us today in the living tradition of the Hindu religion, the basis of Indian culture. India has kept true to its ancient tradition of non-violence and spiritual search, even as it became part of the modern world. 57 min Video/C 3018

    India, The Textile Industry. (Geographical Eye Over Asia)
    1996. 20 min. Video/C 4584

    India: The Turmoils of the Century.
    This documentary film traces the history of the past 100 years of the Indian subcontinent. The film chronicles Ghandi's independence movement, World War II with the subsequent British withdrawal, and the partitioning of India and Pakistan in 1947. It details the religious riots and pogroms that followed and continue to plague such regions as Kashmir, Punjab, Assam and Sri Lanka. It follows the political fortunes of the Nehru and Bhutto families. In addition to detailing internal politics, the film also shows the role of India and Pakistan with regard to the Soviet Union and China. 120 min Video/C 3961

    Indian Classical Music.
    Compilation of performances featuring some of the finest musicians of India: Ali Akbar Khan, Alla Rakha, Amjad Khan, Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Ravi Shankar. Each a supreme virtuoso of his instrument, the artists perform ragas that illustrate the range, scope and texture of Indian classical music. 85 min. Video/C 4583

    An Indian Pilgrimage--Kashi
    Presents a documentary on a pilgrimage to the sacred city of Kashi on the Ganges River. Follows two Telegu-speaking brahmans and their wives who come from south India to perform classical ancestor rites. Shows some of the tenets of Hinduism as the pilgrims are instructed in the correct performance of the rites by a brahman Telegu-speaking priest. 30 min. Video/C 4263

    An Indian Pilgrimage--Ramdevra.
    Presents a documentary on a folk pilgrimage to Ramdevra, India. Follows a group of Hindus from Bombay to the grave of Ramdev, a medieval hero and saint of Rajasthan. Shows ways in which the Hindu pilgrims are free to worship, their collective offering at Ramdev's grave, and their interactions with other pilgrims, shoppers, preachers, hawkers, and devotional singers who throng the festival. Devotional songs telling the stories of Ramdev feature prominently in film. 26 min Video/C 3773

    Islam and Feminism
    Film examines the inequities in Pakistan's Islamic law, which does not distinguish among rape, adultery and fornication. Under this law, the testimony of two women is valued as equal to that of one man. A rape victim can be charged under Islamic law with having had extramarital sex. This report examines these contradictions, and introduces efforts of women's organizations to battle the severe discrimination which Pakistani women must endure. Video/C 3051

  • Description from First Run/Icarus catalog

    • Islami Inqilab: Marahil-o Madarij.
    A speech delivered by a Sunni religiopolitical leader from Pakistan, Israr Ahmad, concerning the different stages of an Islamic revolution with special reference to Pakistan. In Urdu. 168 min. Video/C 4730

    Jagriti (The Awakening).
    This film is about Jagriti, a school for the children of Motia Khan, a slum in the poorest district of Delhi. Although set in India, this film is a case study of the political roadblocks, red tape, and corruption often encountered by samaritans in poor areas all around the world. 25 min. Video/C 3043

  • Description from First Run/Icarus catalog

    • Jalsah-yi am Haidarabad, 31 Aktubar.
    In Urdu. An address at a large public gathering at Hyderabad, Pakistan, by the convenor of the Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQA), on organization striving for the sociopolitical rights of immigrants from India. 158 min. PAL Video/C 3907

    Jama Masjid Street Journal.
    An early film by Mira Nair, this is her personal record of street life in the Moslem community surrounding the Jama Masjid, or Great Mosque, in the old city of Delhi, India. 20 min. Video/C 4724

    Jivana ka eka aura nama Vishnu Prabhakara.
    A documentary on the Hindi author, Vishnu Prabhakar including conversations with Padma Sacadeva and others. PAL format. In Hindi. 60 min. Video/C 6177

    Kaal Chakra.
    In Hindi. A dramatization which depicts a struggle between police and gundas. 148 min. Video/C 3900

    Kala Pani.
    In Urdu. Feature film, portraying the calamities that beset a jobless young man, Aslam, and his 5 year old brother Pappoo. The day after their mother's death, Pappoo wanders around in search of food, is hit by a car, and is taken away by the car owner for treatment. Meanwhile, Aslam marries his ailing teacher's daughter, but they are soon evicted from the house by the landlord for non-payment of rent. Aslam's wife is kidnapped and killed by a gangster, Silawar, but through the latter's machinations, Aslam is proved guilty and is transported for life. His daughter is also kidnapped by Dilawar and is brought up and trained as a dancer. On getting this news, Aslam escapes from jail, kills Dilawar and his men, and meets his daughter, but is rounded up by the police party, headed by his brother, Pappoo, and is sentenced to death. 151 min. Video/C 3919

    Kama Sutra
    In a seductive tale of love and betrayal, a king's courtesan is forbidden her one true love. Trained in the art of pleasure, Maya, the beautiful servant girl becomes defiant, rebelling against ancient tradition. As passion takes over, the conflict brings consequences that no one ever envisioned. 114 min. 999:1814

    Kamala and Raji
    Two working women in Ahmedabad, India, try to organize their fellow workers. Kamala is an organizer for the Self-Employed Women's Association and Raji is a representative of the vegetable sellers. 46 min. Video/C 1786

    Kahankar, Ahankar: Story Maker, Story Taker.
    Film brings together a selection of the legends and paintings of the Warlis, and writings about these Adivasis who live close to Bombay. These stories represent their history and world-view but outsiders; the Portuguese, the Marathas, and the British have all tried to obliterate this history and wisdom. The works here of the outsiders about the Warlis represent this process. By bringing together these disparate discourses, this film aspires to critique these mythologies and to read between the lines. 1995. 38 min. PAL format Video/C 4897

    Karnar Mitingz: 6 Tarikhi Karnar Mitingz se Altaf Husain ka Khitab
    In Urdu. Addresses at corner meetings in Karachi, Pakistan, prior to the 1988 general elections, by the convenor of the Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQA), on organization striving for the sociopolitical rights of immigrants from India. 178 min. Video/C 3912

    Kasthuri: A Documentary.
    Kasthuri, a 21-year-old film actress working in Madras, India, explains traditional Indian film themes and contemporary influences. As the filmakers follow her about her daily routines of rehearsals, visits with friends and shopping with her mother, they expose the paradox between her public and private life. Although Kasthuri is very successful and well exposed to Western culture, she chooses not to challenge the traditional values of her culture, but is content to have her parents arrange a marriage for her to the man of their choosing. 1993. 30 min. Video/C 4925

    Khuda ki Basti.
    In Urdu. Play on social problems created by wayward urchins in the slum areas of a metropolitan society in Pakistan. 4 videocassettes. Video/C 3903

    Khushboo ka Safar: PTV Musical Programme.
    In Urdu. Modern Urdu songs lyp-synched by a variety of reputed television artists. Performer: Himayat Ali Shaier. Gulbahar Bano, Muhammad Ali Sheikhi, Tina Sani, Afshan Ahmad, and others. 335 min. Video/C 3908

    Knowing Her Place.
    An Indian woman looks at her life, her marriage, and her role in contemporary society both in India and the United States. 40 min. Video/C 2198

    Ladakh.
    Ladakh, a Tantric Buddhist Shangri-la nestled high in the Himalayas, was isolated from the modern world until the mid-70s. To live amongst the energies of gods and demons, villagers rely on both a scholarly monk and the shaman. Film reveals the ancient patterns of Ladakhi life--courtship, family affairs, faith, and the struggle to make a living in a rugged land. 86 min. Video/C 4529

    Lady of Gingee
    Describes celebrations of a Draupadi festival in two villages in northern Tamilnadu (South Indoa) in May and June, 1986. Shows the most prominent events of the festival in Melacceri, including episodes of Terukuttu ("village" or "street") dramas, and village participation in fire-walking. Highlights from the festival are supplemented by interviews with key participants in the celebrations. 113 min. Video/C 4262

    Lage Jiva Ghar Ghar: A Document on Women and Shelter.
    Traces the differential socialization of the girl child in India, which is geared towards preparation for marriage, rather than for earning an independent livelihood. It highlights the skewed access to ownership of property in a patriarchal society which denies women their basic right to shelter, forcing them to continue living in abusive marriages. Also examinines the limitation of alternative sources of shelter, such as working women's hostels, shelter homes for women in distress and homes for the aged. 199? 44 min. PAL format Video/C 466

    A Lake View.
    Examines the environmental problems resulting from the deposition of wastes from nearby residential houses into the Dhanmondi Lake which was excavated in the 60's as part of the Dhaka Urban Development Program. PAL format. In Bengali. 16 min. Video/C 6176

    A Land Tilled with Blood
    A documentary on the activities of the banned Naxalite Organization operating in Bihar. (On same tape with Manipur, Nowhere to Hide)1996. 35 min. Video/C 5121

    Latt Saheb.
    Director Hari Valia. The amorous misadventures of a carefree young Indian peasant who meets and woos a girl of a higher caste interfering with her father's plans for an arranged marriage. In Hindi with English subtitles. 130 min. 999:2068

    Learning to Read and Rewrite: A Document on Tribal Education in Thane District.
    Discusses the reasons for the persistence of adivasi illiteracy despite the efforts of the state and welfare agencies through formalized education. Identifies the educational components implicit in the action programs of some voluntary groups in order to make a case for an education that places literacy in the context of cultural identity. 199? 60 min. PAL format Video/C 464

    The Legacy of Malthus. (Developing Stories)
    Discusses Malthus's theories of population and the causes of poverty. As film contrasts the 19th century poor in Scotland with today's poor in India, it takes on the international population "establishment", challenging the entrenched view that overpopulation alone is responsible for poverty and environmental destruction. 50 min. Video/C 3874

    Life and Death of a Dynasty.
    For most of the past half-century, modernIndia has been a democracy ruled by three charismatic individuals -- Jawaharal Nehru, his daughter Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi. The film explores the lives of these three leaders and analyzes the driving forces behind their personal and national ambitions. 90 min. Video/C 2148

    Lord of the Dance: Destroyer of Illusion.
    Filmed in a remote region of Nepal within the shadow of Mt. Everest, Lord of the Dance documents activities at two Buddhist monasteries where Sherpas and Tibetans preserve a unique way of life and vision of the world. The film focuses on the ancient Mani-Rimdu festival of "awakening" and on Trulshig Rinpoche, the Tibetan Lama who directs its performance. 114 min. Video/C 4530

    Loving Krishna.
    Explores the worship of Krishna in India within families and in large celebrations including the Celebration of Krishna's Birth and the Chariot Journey of Krishna. A film by Allen Moore and Akos Ostor. 1985. 40 min. Video/C 5836

    Luv Kush: Ramayan Uttar Kand.
    Sequel to the televison version of the ancient Indian classic, Ramayan. PAL format. In Hindi-Urdu. 8 videocassettes, 521 min. Video/C 3952

    Magra Mewar Vikas Sanstha.
    Evaluation of efforts made by Magra Mewar Vikas Sanstha, a coordinating voluntary agency of village committees in Rajasthan that have taken up sustainable development of their common property resources based on the principles of contributory voluntary labor and equitable distribution of produce. This film evaluates these efforts in the context of on-going ecological degradation of the central Aravallis and governmental initiatives to remedy the situation. 199? 68 min. PAL format Video/C 472

    Mahabharat: India's Greatest Epic.
    This Hindu classic tells the story of the descendants of King Bharata, two families who lived in northern India, perhaps about 1200 B.C. The Pandava brothers lose their kingdom to their Kaurava cousins and engage in a mighty struggle to win it back. Many lives are lost in the conflict. The story illustrates the futility of war. Some of the heroes are taken from history, and some represent human ideals and gods.
  • PAL format, 47 videocassettes, ca. 3760 min.: some cassettes in Hindi only; some in Hindi with English subtitles. Video/C 3731
  • VHS format, 24 videocassettes, ca. 3899 min.: in Hindi with English subtitles. Video/C 5929

    The Mahabharata.
    Directed by Peter Brook. The world of the Mahabharata is of profound storytelling power and spiritual import; within it a civilization rises, falls, and is reborn. This set contains "The Game of Dice", "Exile in the Forest", and "The War." 328 min. - 3 cassettes. Video/C 2194

    Mahabharata Katha. 1, Draupadi Svayamvara.
    A film presentation of the story of the Hindu religious text the Mahabharata. In Hindi. Video/C 4552

    Mahatma Gandhi, Soul Force.
    Examines Mahatma Ghandi's philosophy of nonviolence and his quest for Indian self-respect and independence from British rule. Includes archival footage. 30 min. Video/C 833

    Manifestations of Shiva.
    Shows the worship of the Hindu god Shiva on a personal level, through dance, art, music and ritual. Without narration, it aims to convey a feeling for the events represented, through observation of those experiencing the events, rather than through didactic explanation. Presented by the Philadelphia Museum of Art to compliment the exhibition Manifestations of Shiva. 60 min. Video/C 4541

    Manipur, Nowhere to Hide
    tells the inside story of the Northeast Indian state, Manipur, and its fragmention by insurgency. (On same tape with A Land Tilled with Blood) 1996. 41 min. Video/C 5121

    Mardon Wali Baat.
    In Hindi. Historical film based on the activities of Thugs in pre-independence India. 172 min. Video/C 3901

    Masala.
    A black comedy about the god Krishna, summoned to earth by an old woman, a young ex-junkie named Krishna who is coping with the death of his family in a plane crash, and what happens when their paths cross. 105 min. 999:981

    Memories of Milk City.
    Ahmedabad, in the Gujarat regionof India, is a troubled city. Once home to the ideas of Rajiv Gandhi, it has more recently suffered appaling communal violence. This film is a powerful but elegant lament to the city that once was. 10 min. Video/C 3055

  • Description from First Run/Icarus catalog

    • Meeras
    A documentary on the history of Muslim rule in South Asia, 712-1857, and the Pakistan movement through 1947. In Urdu. PAL format. 150 min. Video/C 3909

    A Migrant's Heart. (Human Geography; 8)
    An English actor whose parents came from India and then migrated to East Africa and finally England returns to visit New Delhi, India, to seek his roots, and to work through ethnic identity problems which can result when one is caught between two worlds. 27 min. Video/C 4248

    Milan.
    Director Adurthi Subha Rao, 1967. "Death is inevitable but... only one in a billion souls remembers its earlier existence. Milan is the story of such a soul." In Hindi with English subtitles. 170 min. 999:2067
    Credits and other information from the Internet Movie Database

    Mirat ul Uroos.
    In Urdu. Television play. Performer: Arifa Siddiqui, Irsa Ghazal, Pervaiz Raza, Anjum Ayaz, Attiya Sharaf, Tamana Begum Tani Begum. Video/C 3913

    Mithila Painters: Five Village Artists from Madhubani, India.
    Interviews with five Indian painters who live in Mithila and practice the ancient folk painting unique to the North Indian region of Madhubani. They display their works and explain their painting techniques and the folklore and stories which inspire their art. In Tamil with English voiceover.40 min. Video/C 3381

    Modern Brides: Arranged Marriage in South India.
    Describes two middle-class brahman marriages in Mysore, South India in 1983. Through interviews with the brides, the grooms, and other members of their families, the film represents varying views on marriage, family loyalty, and family status. 30 min. Video/C 3378

    Muft Bazar.
    Report on a unique free bazar, organized and arranged for the benefit of the needy by the Muhajir Qaum Movement (MQM), an organization striving for the sociopolitical rights of the immigrants from India who opted for Pakistan in 1947 and settled mostly in the urban areas of Sind, Pakistand; includes glimpses of the organization's other social activities. 160 min. Video/C 3911

    Munni
    Looks at the life of a young girl in the Indian village of Mithila. Tells how changes in roles and attitudes have come to women there through ancient traditions of painting, but Munni learns the old ways from her grandmother and the new from her aunt. Her daily life exhibits the values of family and cultural continuity that are her legacy. 29 min. Video/C 4264

    Mutthi Bhar Chawal.
    In Urdu. A Social drama set in Pakistan. Performer: Nadeem, Sangeeta, Ghulam Mohi-ud-din, Shela Gul, Sari, Najma Begum, Romana, Kamal Irani. 140 min. Video/C 3914

    A Musical Tradition in Banaras.
    Centered around the activities and approach to music of Panchu Maharaj, a classical drummer and musical instructor at Banaras Hindu University. Viewer is invited into the home of Prof. Maharaj, to view private aspects of Indian family life including their religious customs. Includes practice sessions in the home where Indian music is played in the casual atmosphere in which it is most frequently heard. In Tamil with English voiceovers. 40 min. Video/C 3778

    New View New Eyes
    An East Indian Canadian travels to India to meet her father's family. She finds that India is in no simple way her "home", yet she also can't hide behind the tourist's camera. Western representations of India are challenged as we see India through a weave of location imagery, music, poetry, conversation and journal entries. 49 min. Video/C 4254

    Newstrack
    Videotaped from the news program, India Today. Monthly subsciption from October 1990 through December 1995. Video/C 1820:1. [All shelved at NRLF: 1990:10 1990-1995:12]


  • Listing of Newstrack contents (via University of Virginia)

    • Nice Weather, Mr. Pradhan
    An anthropologist from Nepal comes to a small town in the Netherlands to study the care of the aged in Dutch society. He in turn becomes the object of close scrutiny by his subjects, most of whom have little knowledge about the Nepalese. A delightful portrayal of the benefits that can result from an interchange of cultures. 28 min. Video/C 4235

    Odhni: A Collective Exploration of Ourselves, Our Bodies.
    A discussion by Indian women of different ages, backgrounds, and life experiences concerning what they have in common and the social and political empowerment of women in India. 1993. 23 min. PAL format Video/C 465

    Once This Land Was Ours.
    A poetic documentary about women agriculture workers in India and their struggle to provide for their families. 19 min. Video/C 3359

    One Hundred Years of Drought
    Examines the causes of recurrent drought in Maharashtra. Demonstrates the extent to which drought is a man-made phenomenon, including a review of the impact of colonial rule and the famine policy, as well as the post-independence path of development which has resulted in deforestation, soil erosion and depletion of ground water reserves. Examines alternative approaches involving people's participation in integrated watershed management based on the principles of sustainable development. 1993. 21 min. PAL formatVideo/C 475

    Painted Ballad of India.
    Takes place in the desert village of Rajasthan, on the western side of North India. Examines the painting of horizontal scrolls. The camera follows the ballad singer as he begins with the tale of Pabuji. The themes of his songs vary from ancient legends to contemporary social and political problems. 30 min. Video/C 2376

    Panah.
    A Pakistan television Urdu drama on the agonies and sufferings of Afghan refugees due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. 90 min. Video/C 3800

    Pandit Nehru: A Profile.
    This film recounts the historic role played by Pandit Nehru, the first prime minister of an independent India. The film traces the development of his resistance to British rule and his socialist philosophy. It shows the mutal admiration he and Ghandi had for one another and how their differences complemented each other. Film includes archival footage of India's independence and the civil war that split India from Pakistan. 22 min. Video/C 4912

    Pani Panchayat: Alternatives in Development.
    Documents a water co-operative movement of small farmers in drought prone Taluka of Maharashtra. In part I the co-operative movement in Pani Panchayat is juxtaposed with the state's promotion of large irrigation projects while Part II appraises the effectiveness of water supply efforts at Pani Panchayat as an alternative model. 199-? 50 min. PAL format Video/C 474

    Pardesi Aeen Pyar.
    In Sindhi. Feature film focussing on the ever increading incidence of dacoities, kidnappings and murders in the interior of Sindh, Pakistan. The ring leader of dacoits is killed along with his henchmen by a police officer who infiltrates their ranks disguised as a school teacher. 138 min. Video/C 3918

    Partition of Pakistan.
    In August 1947, Pakistan became a separate Muslim nation following the partitioning of India. This program examines the role of Pakistan's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, in Pakistan's fight to be recognized as a separate nation. It traces Jinnah's evolution from supporter of a British plan to preserve India as a single nation with Muslim autonomy, through his contentious relationship with Mahatma Gandhi, to his ultimate role as leader of the Pakistani separatist movement. Jinnah's legacy is examined in India and Pakistan, where he is alternately vilified and deified. 50 min. Video/C 6113

    Perspectives on Mental Health.
    Traces the history of mental health services in India and the changing paradigms of mental illness, treatment, and rehabilitation, underlying these interventions. The models and approaches adopted by various institutions are explored, in the light of the need for low-cost, appropriate and accessible alternatives in the Indian context. 1991. 60 min. PAL format. Video/C 4898

    Pilgrimage to Pittsburgh.
    In 1987 revisits the Lord Venkateshvara temple near Pittsburgh, PA to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Illustrates the many ways in which the temple brings together Indians living in America and imparts cultural awareness to their children. 25 min. Video/C 3382

    Plants for the Environment.
    In overpopulated Bangladesh people are threatening the environment by destroying trees to meet daily needs. This film examines the consequences of deforestation. 1997. PAL format. 9 min. Video/C 6173

    The Preferred Sex...The Desired Number.
    In many societies, a woman is valued according to her reproductive efficiency. Her status in family and community depends on her ability to bear children of the desired number and of the desired sex. Film investigates the condition of women in Nigeria and India through interviews with husbands, wives, clergy and family planning personnel. 53 min. Video/C 4011

    Pramila and Parvati.
    Explores perceptions of two visually disabled women in India who speak of their experiences of childhood, getting an education, finding employment, marriage and the challenges of parenting their sighted children. Also outlines the children's perception of blindness and their aspirations for the future. 199? 35 min. PAL format Video/C 468

    Prerna: The Community Health Worker and Mental Retardation.
    Profiles a health worker in india who, in the course of her regular community visits, helps in the detection of mental retardation. The slide show in the film traces the process of genetic counseling, through case studies of Down's Syndrome, stressing the importance of early intervention and rehabilitation. It is designed to provide basic information on genetic counseling with specific reference to Down's syndrome for health workers and the layperson. 199? 38 min. PAL format Video/C 476

    A Question of Aid
    Discusses the different approaches to the problem of hunger in Kerala, india and Bangladesh. In Kerala government-run "fair price shops" assure that every person can afford basic nutrition and government developed programs assure high standards of health, education and birth control. Bangladesh, however, is heavily dependent on foreign aid, most of which is used to support the urban middle class while the rural poor remain malnourished, uneducated and trapped in a cycle of poverty. 20 min. Video/C 5939

    Raga.
    Illustrates the complex Raga system of music and its foundation on simple folk songs and Hindu religious chants. 27 min. Video/C 2613

    Rajmohan Gandhi, Encounters with Truth.
    Presents the life and work of Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, who is active in politics in India in the 1980's. He speaks about political change in India, non-violence, and the role of religion in India. 40 min. Video/C 4914

    Ramayan.
    A video adaptation of the Indian epic poem Ramayana. Originally produced as a TV series.
  • PAL format, 26 videocassettes, 2951 min.: some cassettes in Hindi only; some in Hindi with English subtitles. Video/C 3732
  • VHS format, 26 videocassettes, 2951 min.: in Hindi with English subtitles. Video/C 5928

    Rishte (Relationships).
    In India Lali Devi and 2 of her daughters take poison to kill themselves because there are five girls in the family and no boys. 1995. 26 min. Video/C 4638

    The Road to Indian Independence.
    The program follows the bloody trail of Indian insurrection and Gandhi's efforts to counter violence with non-violence; Britain's granting of independence to India in 1947; and shows how, despite the best efforts of Gandhi and Nehru, the nationalist Indian movement was overcome by the religious Hindu movement, and the subcontinent was divided into two countries: Hindu India and Moslem Pakistan. Notes: A presentation of the Hachette Library and Pathe-Cinema. Originally produced in 1990. 18 min. Video/C 4579

    Sadhus: India's Holy Men
  • Lotan Baba, The Rolling Saint. Follows Lotan Baba's 2,500 mile "rolling" pilgrimage across India to do penance. 50 min. Video/C 4574
  • The Living God. Focuses on Sadhu Jayendra Saraswali, arguably the most influential man in India. 50 min. Video/C 4575
  • Aghori, Living with the DeadConcentrates on Ram Nath, a member of the rare and extreme "aghori" sadhu sect, who ritually pollutes himself in order to worship. 50 min. Video/C 4576

    Saheri's Choice.
    This program examines the custom of arranged marriages in India. It follows the story of one girl and her family as they confront the reality of an impending marriage that was arranged when the girl was barely six years old. An overview of the custom it as common among all castes, although many Indians view the practice in a negative light. Education, family wealth, and astrological compatibility are examined as important in determining with whom the marriages are arranged. The issue of dowry and severe penalties for breaking engagements are discussed, along with divorce negotiations should the marriage fail. 27 min. Video/C 6111

    Salaam Bombay!
    Krisha, a ten year old boy, has been abandoned in Bombay by his mother. He tries to earn money to go home while he lives in the streets. 114 min. 999:136


  • Bhatia, Jagdish. "Only Tinsel Dreams for Bombay's Battered Urchins." (movie Salaam Bombay) Far Eastern Economic Review v141, n28 (July 14, 1988):45 (2 pages).
  • Cardullo, Bert. "Salaam Bombay!" (movie reviews) Hudson Review v42, n2 (Summer, 1989):290 (9 pages).
  • Dayal, Samir. "The Subaltern Does Not Speak: Mira Nair's 'Salaam Bombay!' As a Postcolonial Text." Genders, n14 (Fall, 1992):16 (17 pages).
  • Pamuk, Orhan. "Salaam Bombay!" TLS. Times Literary Supplement, n4823 (Sept 8, 1995):3 (2 pages).

    • Saltmen of Tibet (Die Salzmanner von Tibet)
    Documents the ancient traditions and day-to-day rituals of a Tibetan nomadic community on a three-month pilgrimage. Observing age-old taboos and steadfast homage to the deities of nature, four men meticulously plan their yak caravan to fetch precious salt from the holy lakes of the Changtang region of northern Tibet. In Tibetan with English subtitles. 118 min. Video/C 6123

    Sanskrit Drama.
    World-famous dancer, Mrinalini Sarabhai, recreates the classical Indian dance forms of the Sanskrit theater. Footage of rehearsals with American actors and a performance of the Sanskrit classic The Vision of Vasavadatta by Bhasa, introduce viewers to Indian mannerisms, movements, costuming and makeup. 15 min. Video/C 4047

    Sari Red.
    A film by Pratibha Parmar. A visual poem made in memory of Kalbinder Kaur Hayre, a young Indian woman, killed by fascists in 1985 in a racist attack in England. 14 min. Video/C 3462

    Satya, A Prayer for the Enemy.
    Since the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950, more than one million people have been tortured, executed or starved to death for their role in demonstrations against the Chinese occupation. This film focuses on personal testimonies of Tibetan Buddhist nuns who have taken the lead in this resistance by fearlessly staging courageous demonstrations for religious freedom and independence. A film by Ellen Bruno, 1993. 28 min. Video/C 4704


  • Information about Satya from POV Interactive

    • Science for Survival. (Woman's Place)
    Activist and ecologist Vandana Shiva is the leader of a people's movement in India that opposes "reductionist Western science". She argues that the failure of the Green Revolution was due to the fact that women's knowledge of traditional seed varieties was ignored. Shiva is devoting her scientific knowledge to proving that local farming methods, which recognize diversity and complexity in their polycultures, are vital to the survival of the Indian ecosystem. The film also looks at the work of Dr. Sharadini Dahanukar who has set out to prove that ayurvedic medicine, which relies heavily on women's knowledge of plants and herbs, has scientific validity. Also the film looks at silk technology from the ultra-modern biotech laboratories where the cocoons are bred, through the ancient process of silk reeling, to the bustling auction halls. 1995. 50 min. Video/C 4598

    Seed and Earth.
    A film by Lina Fruzzetti, Alfred Guzzetti, Ned Johnston and Akos Ostor. Film follows the daily schedule of the families of two brothers who live in the Janta village of West Bengal, India during the summer of 1988. 1994. 37 min. Video/C 4943

    Seeds of Plenty, Seeds of Sorrow.
    This documentary film shows the effects of the once-vaunted Green Revolution in India. Instead of massive harvests of wheat, pesticide poisoning and fertilizer shortages have turned the revolution's workers into a new serf class and created a bureaucratic nightmare. 50 min. Video/C 3867

    Seema.
    Director Amiya Chakrabarty, 1956. Tackles the unusual theme of a girl embittered by social injustice being reformed by a man with sympathetic understanding. In Hindi with English subtitles. 132 min. 999:2070
    Credits and other information from the Internet Movie Database

    Seraikella Chhau: The Masked Dance of India.
    Introducesthe art form of the masked dance and illustrates the variety of characters that may be portrayed. 38 min. Video/C 3245

    The Shattered Pearl.
    Once the "Pearlof the Indian Ocean," modern Sri Lanka has become the battleground for a civil war waged by Tamil, Sinhala, and Muslim groups. This conflict led to the kidnap and murder in 1990 of Richard De Zoysa, a liberal journalist who reported on human rights abuses. Sri Lanka and its women's groups , including De Zoysa's mother,came together to offer support to the victims of violence. 25 min. Video/C 3038

  • Description from First Run/Icarus catalog

    • Sikhism: The Golden Temple.
    Traces the roots of Sikhism and its central place of worship, the Golden Temple in Punjab, from its founder Guru Nanak in 1469 through today. Its central precepts - belief in one God, the equality of all people, sharing, and the performance of good deeds - are discussed within the context of daily life by a young Sikh woman (Harsimran Kaur). The stringent religious dress code and the significance of the traditional Sikh head wrap is explained. Includes a tour of the Golden Temple and a marriage ceremony. 15 min. Video/C 6109

    A Silent Disaster.
    A documentary on the impact of riverline and oceanic erosion in the delta lands of Bangladesh. PAL format. In Bengali and English. 20 min. Video/C 6174

    Sitala in Spring
    A historical film of an annual festival held in West Bengal, India in honor of the goddess of health and illness, Hindu deity Sitala. 40 min. Video/C 4256

    So Far from India.
    Directed by Mira Nair. Describes the experiences of a recently arrived Indian immigrant in America, contrasting them with the traditional world of his new bride whom he left behind in India. Seeks to explore the conflicts that arise when Indian culture meets American society. 49 min. Video/C 2169

    Something Like a War.
    Presents the dilemma of population pressure in India, where the official policy of population control clashes with the cultural values surrounding childbirth. 52 min. Video/C 3357

    A Song of Ceylon.
    This remarkable film in which a narrator recounts the exorcism of a young Sri Lankan woman, is a provactive treatise on hysteria and performance. 1985. 51 min. Video/C 4650

    South Asia: Aspiring India. (Power of Place: World Regional Geography; 21-22)
    Prog. 21. Urban and rural contrasts: Delhi, bursting at the seams. Dikhatpura, help through irrigation. A telecourse designed to build understanding of geography by examining eleven regions of the world and their interconnections. Each program contains case studies which characterize an individual region. In Delhi, Bursting at the Seams a geographer studies Delhi as a multicultural, rapidly growing city. Dikhatpura, Help Through Irrigation explores the lives of farmers reliant on irrigation in Southwestern India. 58 min. Video/C 4322

    Strange Spirit: One Country's Occupation
    A documentary film chronicling the Chinese invasion and brutal occupation of Tibet from the first battles in 1950 to the present day. Includes interviews with Tibetan exiles including soldiers who describe the fall of the capital city of Lhasa and how they smuggled the Dalai Lama across the Himalayas into India. Tibet's "warrior nun", Ani Pachen, describes her 21-year imprisonment while other former prisoners describe executions, mass graves and suicides during their years of incarceration. Chinese police footage shows the brutal suppression of Tibetans engaged in pro-independence demonstrations. 1997. 40 min. Video/C 5421

  • Full-text review from Video Librarian

    • Sudesha. (As Women See It)
    The "Chipko" movement was founded in India by peasant women who recognized the economic consequences of deforestation of their regions and was one of the first environmental movements in the Third World. This is an account of "Sudesha," a woman who lives in the foothills of the Himalayas, who organized the women of her village to save the forests, thereby challenging the rules of Indian society and women's traditional roles. 30 min. Video/C 4170

    Surpanakha (or the Amorous Demoness): A Kutiyattam Dance Drama of Kerala State, South India.
    A Dramatic adaptation of the 2nd act of a 10th century Sanskrit play, the Crest Jewel, in which the sister of Ravana falls in love with Rama. When he rejects her she turns to his brother who also rejects her. Enraged she attacks Rama and his wife, Sita, but Rama's brother intervenes to cut off her nose and ears. She appeals to her brothers for revenge instigating the war between Rama and Ravana. 90 min. Video/C 4046

    Tales of Pabuji: ARajasthani Tradition.
    A documentary of an ancient storytelling tradition which is still ongoing in northwestern India. It tells the epic of Lord Pabuji whose exploits have been recounted for over 600 years in the state of Rajasthan. The storyteller or Bhopo stands in front of an immense brilliantly painted muralcalled a pard, containing all the characters and events of the legend. He plays on his homemade fiddle, dances, and chants episodes of the epic to his village audience. 32 min. Video/C 4787

    Talim-E-Baleghan.
    A satirical play concerning adult education in Pakistan. Includes an interview with Khawaja Moinuddin. Performer: Khawaja Moinuddin. In Urdu. 120 min. Video/C 3917

    Tanda: A Document on the Denotified Tribes in Maharashtra.
    Looks at the social history of India to examine the process by which many disparate nomadic tribes were labelled as "criminal", and attempts to establish the fact that even after independence, the status of these tribes has not substantially changed as they still struggle for basic human rights. 199? PAL format. 60 min. Video/C 4896

    Tangail Tornado, 13th May, 1996.
    A documentary examining the social and economic impact of a tornado that ripped through 80 villages of the Tangail district of Bangladesh in May, 1996. PAL format. In Bengali and English. 14 min. Video/C 6175

    Tea Fortunes. (Commodities; 3)
    Documents the history of the tea industry in China, India, Sri Lanka, and East Africa. Profiling Sir Thomas Lipton, it shows how he and his competitors controlled every stage of tea manufacture, from planting to blending, packaging to retailing. Today India controls its exports of tea, Sri Lanka has nationalized its tea estates, Zimbabwe's state-run plantations generate some cash in rural areas while women in China work for some of the lowest wages in the world producing tea for western blends. 52 min. Video/C 3496

    Teesri Manzil.
    In Urdu. A romance set in Pakistan. 164 min. Video/C 3916

    Thar: Secrets of the Desert.
    Consider the Indira Gandhi Canal, cutting through the Thar Desert from Ganganagar to Jaisalmer. Isn't it the perfect symbol of development? Yes, but it has brought malaria to the region. This video highlights this contradiction by looking at the times, and practices, when a rich culture and trade flourished in Rajasthan, the world's most populous desert. It shows how humans, animals and nature fused into a lifeworld that took care of needs without damaging the environment. 1995. 52 min. Video/C 5659

    There'll Always Be Stars in the Sky: The Indian Film Music Phenomenon.
    Takes you behind the scenes of India's Hollywood to meet actors, singers, musical directors and others. 60 min. Video/C 3265

    330 Million Gods.
    Visits the various sites in India and observes the performance of several types of religious ceremonies. Explores the Hindu approach to God and the complexity of the Hindu religious experience. 55 min. Video/C 191

    Tibet in Exile.
    Since China's occupation of Tibet in 1949, the culture of this ancient and romote country has been under attack. More than 1 million Tibetans have died and over 6,000 Buddhist monasteries have been destroyed. This film portrays Tibet's struggle for survival, focusing on the nearly 120,000 Tibetans who have escaped to India and Nepal in hopes of preserving their unique culture. 30 min. Video/C 2486

    Tibetan Buddhism
    An educational documentary on Tibetan Buddhist culture of the Himalayas, filmed in the Lukil Valley of Ladakh. The film provides an in-depth portrait of the annual cycle of interdependence among monks, laity, deity-protectors and nature. 120 min. Video/C 4260

    Tibetan Tradition in Crisis (UCB Open Window series)
    Kenting Tai, the situ rinpoche, discusses the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism. Examines the impact of the Chinese occupation of Tibet and more recently on the opening of Tibet on traditional beliefs and religious institutions. 1985. [3/4" Umatic format] Video/C 866

    Village Man, City Man.
    A documentary on the life of a young millworker in an industrial section of Delhi. Follows him on a return visit to his village in Uttar Pradesh. Shows changes and continuities in his life by conversations with his friends at the mill and by observations of how he works and spends his leisure time in both city and village.40 min. Video/C 3774

    The Village Republic (Wealth of Nations. People and the Environment)
    Empowerment begins in the village; some small--and huge-- success stories from India make sustainable development a reality. Taken together, they constitute a powerful critique of "thinking big". This video puts these endeavours together: Sukhomajri in Haryana, seed in Rajastan, Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra, and Kesharpur village in Orissa. All those who "thought" small and put their heads, and resources, together to help each other.1995. PAL format 48 min. Video/C 5660

    Voices of the Morning.
    A meditation on women's roles as defined by orthodox Islamic laws. It is one of the first productions by a rising wave of South Asian women visual artists. Examines familial and societal restrictions placed on South Asian women. 15 min. Video/C 2786

  • Description from NAATA catalog

  • ABC-CLIO Video Rating Guide for Libraries

    • Voices of the People
    Discusses events leading to the state of emergency and subsequent election of a new government in 1977 in India. 30 min. Video/C 4265

    The Wages of Action: Religion in a Hindu Village
    Set in Soyepur, a village near Benares, India, this film discusses Hinduism and how it touches every aspect of a villager's life from birth to death. 47 min. Video/C 4257

    Wedding of the Goddess.
    A documentary on the Chitterai Festival in Madurai, India, that provides historical background on the annual festival, shows the reenactment of the marriage of the god Sundareshvara and the goddess Minakshi, and provides a picture of the proceedings of the 19-day festival.76 min. Video/C 3767

    What Do You Call an Indian Woman Who's Funny?
    Made for Britain's Channel 4 TV series, "First Sex." Looks at four Indian women cabaret performers and explores the question of who sets the agenda for comedy. Is comedy culturally specific or can anyone enjoy a joke regardless or race and ethnicity? 18 min. Video/C 3758

  • NAATA catalog description

    • The Women's Bank of Bangladesh
    Describes the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh and the small-business loans it makes to women only. It describes the philosophy, development and function of the bank and follows the activities of women who have taken out loans to fund their cottage industries. The film also examines the attitudes of those who oppose the bank as being contrary to Islamic law and the defense of bank policy by its founder, economics professor Muhammad Yunus. 47 min. Video/C 5498

    Worlds Apart.
    East Indians are the largest single population in Guyana and Trinidad. The influence of their strong cultural identity is examined. 45 min. Video/C 3195

    The Young Workers.
    Looks at the emergence of child labor in India within a historical, societal context. Covers the history of child labor, legislation, alternatives and attempted intervention and concludes with case studies of the match industry in Sivakasi and powerloom industry in Bhivandi.1987. 68 min. PAL format Video/C 473

    Zeenat.
    In Urdu. Story of the rural Sindhi society at the turn of the 19th century, based on a novel by Mirza Qalic Beg. Performer: Rabia Naureen, Mahmood Siddiqui, Ishrat Hashmi, Khalid Zaman, Zaheen Tahira, Gulab Chandio, Shafi Mohammad, Mahamood Ali. 282 min. Video/C 3910

    To the top

    South Asian Diaspora

  • The Movies, Race, and Ethnicity (for a listing of movies with South Asian diaspora themes)

    Ancestors in the Americas.
    A film by Loni Ding. The untold story of how Asians--Filipino, Chinese, Asian Indian--first arrived in the Americas. Film crosses centuries and oceans from the 16th century Manila-Acapulco trade, to the Opium War, to the 19th century plantation coolie labor in South America and the Caribbean. 64 min. Video/C 4353

    The Bhanga Wrap.
    An energetic documentary about a vibrant South Asian youth subculture that fuses hip hop, rap and Bhangra music. Based in Toronto, Canada and New York City, Bhangra is a mix of old and new, and is symbolic of universal cultural transformation for new generations. 20 min. Video/C 4180

  • NAATA catalog description

    • Bittersweet.
    Interviews with East Indians living in the United States and with Americans of East Indian descent are intercut with fictional exchanges between members of an Indian-American family. 39 min. Video/C 4184

    Bolo Bolo.
    Through interviews, interspersed with images of gay sexual encounters, film explores responses to the AIDS crisis by members of the South Asian community of Toronto, Canada. 30 min. Video/C 3829

  • NAATA catalog description

  • Review from South Asian Women Network (SAWNET)

    • Chutney in Yuh Soca: A Multicultural Mix.
    Chutney in Yuh Soca: a film showing the interaction of the East Indian and African populations of Trinidad and Tobago through the popular music "Chutney" which is an combination of Indian folk tunes with the tempo and spice of the Caribbean. The Gospel Truth: A Black family in Great Britain reaffirms their values and family cohesiveness through the singing of gospel music. Songs For Our Daughters: West Indian women in Britain discuss the way they pass their heritage and culture on to their mixed race daughters. 1996. 37 min. Video/C 5075

    Home.
    An East Indian American woman, who immigrated to the United States as a college student, returns to India ten years later to work through the conflicts she experienced with her family and to come to an understanding and acceptance of her Indian identity and heritage. 37 min. Video/C 3236

  • NAATA catalog description

    • I'm British But...
    Using Bhangra and Bangla music and the testimonies of young British Asians, the video uncovers a defiant popular culture--a synthesis--part Asian, part British. 30 min. Video/C 3827


  • NAATA catalog description

    • Khush.
    Directed by Pratibha Parmar. Interviews with South Asian lesbians and gay men in Britain, North America and India concerning the intricacies of being queer and of color. 1991. 24 min. Video/C 4932

    Khush Refugees
    The film focuses on San Francisco's gay community where two exiles, Rahul, an immigrant from India, and Dante, an ex-marine from suburban Ohio, try to assimilate in this new foreign culture. 32 min. Video/C 3822


  • NAATA catalog description

    • Knowing Her Place.
    An Indian woman looks at her life, her marriage, and her role in contemporary society both India and the Untied States. 40 min. Video/C 2198


  • ABC-CLIO Video Rating Guide for Libraries


  • Review from South Asian Women Network (SAWNET)

    • Leaving Bakul Bagan.
    This moving documentary follows filmmaker Sandeep Bhusan Ray's cousin's imminent departure from India to pursue studies in the United States. Torn between familial and national loyalities and her desire to travel and experience personal freedom, this film captures one young woman's embarkation into the world outside what she has known. 1993. 43 min. Video/C 6243

    Ma Baap.
    A film by Siraj Jhaveri. This film chronicles the relationship between the filmmaker's Muslim father and Hindu mother--exploring their forbidden relationship in India, their elopement and eventual separation. Jhaveri interviews his reluctant subjects in the U.S. and travels to India to try and unfold the conditionalities of love and committment. 30 min. Video/C 6016

    Miss India Georgia.
    A film by Daniel Friedman & Sharon Grimberg. This documentary film follows four contestants in the Miss India Georgia pagent and tells the story of their experiences as first generation americans. These young women disclose the complexity of their feelings about growing up in the United States as children of immigrant parents. 1997. 56 min. Video/C 5745

    Mr. Ahmed
    A film by Terrance Grace. A portrait of an Indian expatriate living in a small American town who struggles to re-invent himself. As memories of a home and family left behind seep to the surface, the collision of the old and the new world forces his life into a critical turn, and an act which could destroy both worlds. 52 min. Video/C 6015

    New View New Eyes
    An East Indian Canadian travels to India to meet her father's family. She finds that India is in no simple way her "home", yet she also can't hide behind the tourist's camera. Western representations of India are challenged as we see India through a weave of location imagery, music, poetry, conversation and journal entries. 49 min. Video/C 4254

    A Nice Arrangement.
    Set in the London home of an Indian family on the morning of their daughter's wedding, Menna, the young bride, changes into her traditional bridal gear with the help of her divorced friend, Sita. Together, the women discuss Indian marriage customs and why they chose to marry the "perfect" cultural choice for their parents. 11 min. Video/C 3814

  • NAATA catalog description

    • Pilgrimage to Pittsburgh.
    In 1987 revisits the Lord Venkateshvara temple near Pittsburgh, PA to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Illustrates the many ways in which the temple brings together Indians living in America and imparts cultural awareness to their children. 26 min. Video/C 3382

    Roots in the Sand.
    Through a combined use of extensive archival material and personal interviews, this documentary examines the lives of the Sikh, Moslem and Hindu immigrants of the early 20th century who farmed California's desert regions, particularly the Imperial Valley. There they had to circumvent racism, miscegenation laws, barriers to land ownership and citizenship and even Anglo farmers seeking vengeance. This Punjabi version of the "taming of the Wild West" addresses what media has omitted from history books and the western genre. A film by Jayasri Majumdar Hart. 1998. 57 min. Video/C 5683

  • NAATA catalog description

    • Sari Red.
    A film by Pratibha Parmar. A visual poem made in memory of Kalbinder Kaur Hayre, a young Indian woman, killed by fascists in 1985 in a racist attack in England. 14 min. Video/C 3462

    So Far from India.
    Directed by Mira Nair. Describes the experiences of a recently arrived Indian immigrant in America, contrasting them with the traditional world of his new bride whom he left behind in India. Seeks to explore the conflicts that arise when Indian culture meets American society. 49 min. Video/C 2169

    Taxi-vala / Auto-biography.
    Documentary, exploring the experiences and attitudes of Indian and Pakistani taxi drivers in New York City. Questions as well the filmmaker's relationship to these South Asian immigrants and to his Pakistani/Australian mixed-race heritage.. 48 min. Video/C 4659

    Unbidden Voices.
    A moving portrait of an Indian immigrant woman from Punjab, India, who works 12 hours a day in a Chicago restaurant. Emphasis is on exploitation of immigrant women, feminism, and contrasting cultures. 32 min. Video/C 3358

    What Do You Call an Indian Woman Who's Funny?
    Made for Britain's Channel 4 TV series, "First Sex." Looks at four Indian women cabaret performers and explores the question of who sets the agenda for comedy. Is comedy culturally specific or can anyone enjoy a joke regardless or race and ethnicity? 18 min. Video/C 3758

  • NAATA catalog description

    • To the top

    To pages about:
  • Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma
  • Indonesia
  • Australia/Melanesia
  • Malaysia
  • Philippines


    • Copyright © 1996 by the Library, University of California, Berkeley. All rights reserved.
    Document maintained on server: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ by
    Gary Handman, Head, Media Resources Center.
    Last update 7/7/99 [gh]

    MRC web graphics by Mary Scott, Graphics Office, The Teaching Library