Cinema as a Critical Educational Resource focuses on gaining an understanding of India through the lens of cinema. It deals with rare gems from Indian cinema and beyond to chronicle the history and culture of India and investigates how cinema captures the nuances of Indian life, portraying the experiences, struggles and aspirations of its people. Using critical resources such as film publicity material, including booklets, lobby cards and posters, this research area offers unique insights into its cultural diversity, social fabric and historical evolution.
"Dil Ke Armaan Aansuon Mein Bah Gaye" - Loneliness Depicted through Mise-en-Scène
Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (Editor)
Document TypeIn-house Video
Date31 August 2026
Duration1 in 08 sec
FormatVertical Video
Description
"Dil Ke Armaan Aansuon Mein Bah Gaye" from B.R. Chopra's Nikaah (1982), sung by Salma Agha, is a song about loneliness made visible in every frame.
Antara Mondal gives a fascinating reading of the song through its choice of costume, designed by Bhanu Athaiya, who used authentic Hyderabad pearls and ghararas of twenty-five to thirty yards to complement the grandeur of the palace. At the same time, the cinematography, using subdued candlelight and a camera positioned high above, looks down, effectively diminishing the figure of Salma Agha inside a palace that is too magnificent yet too empty, underlining her loneliness.
As part of the workshop 'A Musical Glue for Nation-Building: Deconstructing the Hindi Film Song,' the discussion explored the song's origins, its enduring popularity, and the many ways it has circulated across audiences and generations. The panelists included Shikha Jhingan, Ravikant, Antara Mondal, and Neville Tuli.