New Genre Studies Class Introduces Bollywood Cinema to Oglethorpe Students
The glitz and glam of Bollywood cinema continues to grow and spread worldwide, but it offers more than vibrant colors, catchy songs, and intricate dances. Studying Bollywood films as cultural texts offers insights into how they reflect different aspects of Indian society.
Professor of Communications Studies Dr. Seema Shrikhande built an advanced special topics course, offered during the Fall 2026 Semester at Oglethorpe University, that explores Bollywood as a film genre. The course is co-listed as a Communications and Film course on the Oglethorpe course catalog because it analyzes and discusses films and includes a production component. Digital Media Lab Coordinator Nick Zakos supported Dr. Shrikhande by sharing insights into the course's production component, where students produce a Bollywood film project.
According to Dr. Shrikhande, the course is structured so students watch different Bollywood films before class, read related material, and come prepared to discuss connections or thoughts on the materials. The course focuses on 21st-century Bollywood films but also includes a few films from the 80s and 90s to show how the films continue to evolve.
As a genre, Bollywood is no new player and is often regarded as one of the world's largest film industries. The first full-length Indian feature film, Raja Harishchandra, came out in 1913. Raja Harishchandra kicked off the beast that is now Bollywood cinema, and around 20 years later, India was producing around 200 movies per year. Modern-day Bollywood cinema now reaches audiences worldwide with films' powerful storytelling and portrayal of Indian culture at the core of the genre.
Now students have the opportunity to learn about Bollywood cinema and the true power of the genre. As stated in the course syllabus, the course objectives are as follows:
Become familiar with how the portrayal of gender, sexuality, and politics in contemporary Bollywood cinema has evolved.
Develop an appreciation of the aesthetics and filming techniques of Bollywood.
Understand the appeal of Bollywood for the diaspora and its place in a global setting
Through exploring contemporary Bollywood cinema, Dr. Shrikhande hopes students will gain insight into how films portray Indian culture and how themes such as caste, gender, and class have evolved.
Dr. Shrikhande said, “I am so pleased with how much the students are engaging with and enjoying the films.”
Special topics courses at Oglethorpe University let professors expand on their interests and give students the chance to learn about unique topics not normally offered. Students in the class shared their love of learning about new cultures and how special topics courses make it possible.
Senior Sabelle Adams said, “I am learning about Indian culture and filming techniques and getting ideas for future projects by observing how these films are made.”
As a genre, Bollywood cinema reflects a multitude of important communication topics and can be analyzed through a cultural lens to answer relevant research questions. Cultural studies play a large role throughout Oglethorpe University’s academic curriculum, and offering courses such as the Bollywood course gives students a unique look into new cultures, offering new perspectives on the world of communications and film studies.
Dr. Shrikhande hopes to offer the course again and expand the “genre” category of film studies to include different course subjects.
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