Indian Beauty

The movies made in the studios of Bombay—brimming with ravishing eyes, generous hips, ample breasts, syrupy music, and sultry dance routines, and set in wedding-cake décors—have spawned a distinct style now identified by a succinct moniker: “Bollywood.” This genre’s unique blend of kitsch and eroticism has not only invaded the screens of the Indian diaspora, but is now influencing art and fashion throughout the West.
More than a sociological and aesthetic discussion of the recent phenomenon, this book explores the visual and narrative origins of Bollywood style, grounded in Indian art and religion. It shows how Bollywood’s frenzy, sanctity, sensuality, and sentiment are variously indebted to Mughal miniatures, racy statues of Ganesh and Shi va, erotic temples in Khajuraho, and vivid passages from the Kama Sutra.