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Synopsis The excitement of cinema is the pulse of the Indian nation. There is nothing quite like it in the world. Encyclopaedia Britannica's Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema looks as much at the trends and techniques of filmmaking in Mumbai as at the personalities who shaped the industry into what it is today. This encyclopaedia seeks to capture the big picture in a manner that is both informative and entertaining. It gives a perspective on the fasinating journey of Hindi cinema from the turn of the last century when this industry took its first unsteady steps of infancy, to becoming a leader in the world of celluloid. The book brings together an array of experts, who either have first hand knowledge of the craft of filmmaking or have observeds the industry from close quarters for decades. With that end in mind, this encyclopaedia focuses as much on the starts and directors as it does on films and movements. The book is mounded off with a comprehensive section that throws light on the work of towering individuals whose contributions to Hindi cinema in their respective areas of specialization have been second to none. One unique section of the encyclopaedia, Milestones, is devoted entirely to interviews with legendary Hindi film personalities. The interview with Ashok Kumar was completed a few weeks before the demise of the respected actor. This publication would have remained just a dream... had it not been for the active involvement – from conceptualizing the project to its finalization -- of the esteemed members of the editorial board, comprising reputed Filmmakers, Gulzar and Govind Nihalani, and renowned Entertainment Journalist, Saibal Chatterjee.