38.5 Hey, We Got Put Into Pretty Dresses (An Interview on Bollywood)

What Would Danbury Do?

In this bonus episode Kate interviews Sunny Singh, novelist, Professor of Creative Writing and Inclusion in the Arts at London Metropolitan University, co-creator of the Jhalak Prize, and expert on Hindi Cinema.

Sunny is a lively, knowledgeable, and generous guest, and our interview moves through the long and vibrant history of commercial film in South Asia, the political history and geography of Hindi cinema, and contemporary representation within the Global North.

We also discuss Kate, Edwina, and Mary, and how Bridgerton has been received by both Indian and South-Asian diaspora viewers.

Books and other media we discuss:

• Bridgerton S1 & S2, the TV show

• Raja Harishchandra, the 1913 film

• Vie et Passion du Christ (The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ), the 1903 film

• Lor Girl, the first sound film in the Persian language

• Bride and Prejudice, the 2004 film

• Orientalism, the 1978 book by Edward W. Said

• ‘In the time of plastic representation’, 2017 article by Kristen J. Warner

• Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, the title song to the film of the same name

• Ghalib, a poet

• Bridgerton, the book series by Julia Quinn

• 100 Essential Indian Films, the 2018 book by Sangeeta Datta and Rohit K Dasgupta

• 100 Bollywood Films, the 2006 book by Rachel Dwyer

You can find Sunny on twitter @profsunnysingh.

Don’t forget you can find us on twitter and facebook @bridgertonpod and instagram @wwddpod and join the conversation using the hashtag #WWDDpod. You can also leave us a rating or review on your preferred podcast provider.

This episode was recorded on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung people and edited by Ben McKenzie at Splendid Chaps Productions. You can find Ben here: www.splendidchaps.com

What Would Danbury Do is a proud member of Frolic Media. You can find great romance content and other fantastic podcasts by visiting the Frolic site.

Find Ep 38.5 - Hey, We Got Put Into Pretty Dresses