In honour of the University of Fiji’s 21st anniversary celebrations, a book titled Sentimental Songs, Melodrama and Filmic Narrative in Bollywood's Golden Age has been released.
The book, written by former Senior Lecturer Dr Jasmine Sofia Jannif, examines the dominance of melodramatic songs in Hindi cinema between 1951 and 1963.
While speaking at the launch last night, Jannif says her book analyses emotions in songs and their connection to cinematic genres.
She says that in 1966, she left Fiji to study abroad, but when she returned, she could no longer relate to the music.
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The author says that a world without music would be barren and that songs are a primary source of storytelling.
She further says that Bollywood is very different now compared to the period covered in her book.
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The author adds that this is a homage to her late father.
While launching the book, Vice-Chancellor of UniFiji, Professor Shaista Shameem says that songs are more than just entertainment in movies.
She says it is also about the language.
The Vice-Chancellor adds that the book will definitely be a bestseller.
The book is available on Amazon.
