Tu Mera Superman: Globalization, Cultural Exchange and the Indian Superhero

Iain Robert Smith

doi:10.14325/mississippi/9781628462340.003.0007

Tu Mera Superman: Globalization, Cultural Exchange and the Indian Superhero

Iain Robert Smith

Film Studies

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

While the recent blockbuster Krrish (2006) was initially promoted as “India’s First Super Hero,” the film is actually part of a long history of attempts to engage with the superhero genre in Indian cinema. Utilising Yuri Lotman’s model of cultural exchange, this chapter traces five distinct stages in this history from the early use of imported characters in titles such as Return of Mr. Superman (1960) through to the transnational influence of contemporary Indian superheroes such as Krrish and Ra.One (2011). Moving beyond simplistic formulations that see Indian superheroes as purely imitative of Western models, this chapter instead positions the Indian superhero as part of a transnational dialogue that has a number of implications for our understanding of globalization more broadly.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Superheroes on World Screens
Editors	Rayna Denison, Rachel Mizsei-Ward
Publisher	University Press of Mississippi
Pages	113-131
Number of pages	19
ISBN (Print)	9781628462340
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.14325/mississippi/9781628462340.003.0007
Publication status	Published - 2015

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ER -

Tu Mera Superman: Globalization, Cultural Exchange and the Indian Superhero

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