Abstract

Since 1980, Indian women have moved into documentary filmmaking in increasing numbers using film as a tool for raising consciousness and social change. Their work reflects an extensive variety of styles and genres, a comprehensive range of subjects, a broad spectrum of ideological perspectives--revealing the diversity that India represents. Yet, independent documentary filmmakers remain economically and politically marginalized in India and unknown in the international community. This is a study of four Indian women documentary filmmakers: Jharna Jhaveri, Rinki Roy, Manjira Datta and Suhasini Mulay. At the center of this thesis are interviews with these four women which were conducted in 1996 and 1997. These interviews chronicle the practices of documentary film making and the struggles of these women to make space in the industry. The thesis acknowledges the role of women in documentary film making in India and the process of its production and distribution of documentary films. In conclusion the thesis indicates the need for a distribution network in India to promote and circulate the works of documentary filmmakers