A Musical Glue for Nation Building

The Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (TRIS) invites you to “A Musical Glue for Nation-Building: Deconstructing the Film Song” series of four workshops which brings together leading scholars, academics, film practitioners, students, and admirers of the film song.

Through 16 iconic songs from the cinema of Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, Chetan Anand, V. Shantaram, and B.R. Chopra, the sessions explore the extraordinary power of the film song, examining why these melodies continue to resonate across generations long after their films were first released.

The workshops seek to understand the nature and enduring influence of this cultural glue while situating the film song within TRIS' academic framework for Contemporary India Studies. Through conversations on music, poetry, performance, cinematography, and storytelling, the series uncovers the emotional and intellectual foundations of Indian cinema and the artistic collaborations that shaped the nation's cultural memory.