ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the reader to the world of Indian film music, exploring composers, directors, playback singers, and the inner workings of the Indian film music industry. It provides the complexity of film music’s relationship with, and hegemony over other genres, including its impact on national and regional music identity. The chapter summarizes film music’s ability to function as a flexible behemoth, incorporating the heterogeneity of regional music and styles to create a sound capable of global and national identification. Indian cinema is one of the largest film industries in the world, and one of the most culturally influential. Although it is often referred to as a single, monolithic entity comparable to Hollywood, it is actually a conglomeration of smaller, regional cinemas from across the country. Indian films are highly popular in India, of course, but are also exported throughout South Asia to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
