Bollywood, Hindutva, and Pedagogy

This roundtable examines how Bollywood films, both historical and contemporary, can be taught in religious studies classrooms to explore the contemporary study of Hindutva ideologies, Islamophobia, casteism, and patriarchy. This discussion will highlight interdisciplinary approaches from religious studies, anthropology, literary studies, film and media studies, cultural studies, gender studies, and critical caste studies. Key topics include Hindu nationalism’s impact on Bollywood, representations of inter-religious interactions in modern South Asia, the role of film in South Asian diaspora identity formation, portrayals of Hindu deities and epics, and the increasing marginalization of Muslim and Dalit communities. This session also aims to provide pedagogical strategies for integrating Bollywood films into religion and film courses, offering insights for scholars beyond South Asian studies who seek to engage with Bollywood cinema in their teaching.