Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides a valuable insight into independent Indian documentary filmmaking, a much neglected but vital component of the alternative Indian filmmaking domain. It demonstrates that the Indies are positioned at a crucial vantage point of being able to narrate alternative stories and engage explicitly in political discourse. The book also provides a cogent entry point to the anthology, diving into the ethereal diegetic world of Gurvinder Singh’s seminal Anhey Ghorhey Da Daan. It focuses on specific Indies and their particular themes and discourses, showcasing how the diversity of the films coalesces under the canopy of their critical, diverging and non-mainstream content. The book discusses theme states that the new Indies are breaching the Bollywood bastion, and are revolutionising contemporary Indian cinema by providing a more nuanced, multifaceted, self-appraising and alternative insight into India.