Anthology-films, a sub-genre comprising several short-films bound by a unifying theme, represent a distinctive form of Indian cinematic-storytelling. Although the format has historical-precedents like Satyajit Ray's Teen Kanya (1961), its upsurge on Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms: exemplified by anthologies such as Lust Stories (2018) and Paava Kadhaigal (2020): marks a substantial contemporary revival. This new-wave posits the anthology as a crucial site for narrative-&-directorial exploration, yet a systematic-study of its distinctions as a coherent sub-genre remains absent. This research studied this gap. The principal aim was to undertake a brief study of contemporary Indian anthology films as a sub-genre through the theoretical-lens of Genre Theory. The inquiry (through qualitative-methodology) was guided by three core objectives. First, to document the storylines, thematic-concerns, and other crucial formal details from a sampled set of films. Second, to apply Genre Theory to these constituent films, meticulously chronicling their adherences to and subversions of customary genre conventions across tropes, motifs, and narrative structures. The final objective was to compose these findings to devise a definitive, summarized record of contemporary Indian anthology films. This exploration identified the sub-genre's internal-linkages, commonalities, differences, and its most distinctive-features. The study garnered vital insights into the quintessential elements of this storytelling. These elements are thematic-diversity, genre-hybridity, directorial-multiplicity, and structural-ingenuity. The research quantified the multifaceted-utilization of the anthology-format and undertook a nuanced-examination of its intricacies. Ultimately, patterns, range, and uniqueness emerged among the chosen films, providing a foundational compilation for understanding this evolving and significant cinematic form.

Authors:
Aparaajith Sharmaa, Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India

About the Presenter(s)
Currently studying links between Pop-Culture, Identity, Public Policy. A Media-&-Culture Researcher & Content-Strategist with 13 years comprehensive experience in diverse spheres like: Communication,Academia,Entertainment,Journalism,Advertising,& PR.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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