PANJIM: The beginning of the Indian film industry in 1913, migration to talkies in the ’30s, growth of regional cinema, Bollywood’s golden age from the ’40s to ’60s and the advent of ‘masala movies’ from 1970; the entire journey of one of the biggest and most popular film industries in the world could be an optional paper for students majoring in history at the undergraduate level.
The decision to include ‘History of Indian Cinema 1913-2013’ in the final semester as one of three optional papers is, however, still at the discussion stage with the Board of Studies, Department of History (Goa University).
Once approved, the paper will be introduced under the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS), which is expected to be implemented for degree courses from the next academic year.
The brain behind the concept – Professor Prajal Sakhardande – said the subject would include every detail of the film industry from 1913 to 2013. Movies starring members of the famous Prithviraj Kapoor family to decades when Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, King Khan, Madhubala, Hema Malini, Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit ruled the industry is one of the components of the syllabus.
“It would be a part of the sixth semester wherein students majoring in history, can choose from three optional subjects. Besides Bollywood cinema, the syllabus also contains history of regional cinemas, including Konkani films,” he told Herald.
The curriculum is before the Board of Studies and Sakhardande said a final decision to introduce the paper is yet to be taken. Sources said that certain members on the board are not in favour of the concept.
“We have held two meetings so far, and another meeting is scheduled shortly. I was hopeful that it would be implemented from the current academic year but nonetheless, I expect that it is included in the next year when the Choice Based Credit System is also expected to be introduced,” he said.
A senior member on the panel and a professor at GU confirmed that the proposal is under consideration.
