Hindi 323 – Spring 2009

Guidelines & Expectations for viewing the film श्री ४२०

The movie is 168 minutes long (!) and there are 21 chapters (of unequal length) on the DVD. We will discuss the first half (through the end of Chapter 14) in class on Thursday, April 16, and the remainder on Friday, April 24.

While watching the movie, please do the following:

1. Take notes to assist you in preparing a narrative outline of the film in Hindi. At the end of class on each discussion day (Apr  16, Apr 24) you will turn in your Hindi write-up of the corresponding half on the movie. At least 4 sentences per chapter.

2. Write down at least 15 new words (per half) that you picked up in watching the movie, and the context in which it occurred. Did you notice any unusual/non-standard grammar? (The movie is set in Bombay, and some of the cast speak a version of Hindi influenced by Marathi). Your word lists are to be turned in as well.

3. Did you notice any subtitling translation liberties? Make note of these to discuss.

4. Take note of any observations on the movie and questions you would like to share with the class during our discussion. Be thinking of how you would word these in Hindi J

5. If there are any scenes you would like to review in class, take note of where in the DVD it occurs (chapter, time-stamp, etc), so that we can cue to it quickly.

This film is one of the classics of Indian cinema from the fifties, a mix of musical, comedy, drama, and social commentary. A little bit of everything!