Once Upon a Time in India: A Century of Indian Cinema

The book takes readers on a journey through the evolution of Indian cinema, highlighting important films, personalities, cultural moments and milestones. It combines film history with entertaining trivia and visual storytelling.

Featuring 53 full-page original illustrations inspired by Bollywood poster art, the book is designed as both an informative introduction to Indian cinema and a collectible volume for movie enthusiasts.

Bhawana Somaaya is an acclaimed Indian film journalist, critic, historian and author. She has written extensively on Hindi cinema and served as the editor of Screen from 2000 to 2007. She has authored numerous books on Indian cinema and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2017.

Once Upon a Time in India looks back at a century of Indian cinema, tracing the development of the Hindi film industry through landmark movies, celebrated stars and memorable moments.

Bhawana Somaaya combines historical information with fascinating trivia and milestones, making the story of Indian cinema lively and accessible. The book also includes original Bollywood-poster-style illustrations depicting memorable scenes from Indian films.

It is an engaging introduction to the history, culture and enduring magic of Indian cinema, making it particularly appealing to film enthusiasts and readers interested in India's popular culture.