Pune: The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has announced a course in ‘Appreciation of song picturisation in Indian Cinema’. The course will be held on October 6 and 7.

“Songs have been an integral part of our films right from our first talkie ‘Alam Ara’ (1931). It is widely believed that film songs evolved to a highly sophisticated art by the 1950s and ‘60s, becoming perhaps the most important part of our storytelling on film. The best of songs combined the best of writing, music and dance with a strong sense of storytelling through filming techniques. Moreover, they gave the mainstream Indian cinema a unique identity of its own. Till recent times, it was unthinkable for an Indian film not to have songs. Little wonder that they are such an important part of Indian cinema,” said Bhupendra Kainthola, Director, FTII. 

Setting the tone for the programme, Karan Bali, Course Director, said, “The course will cover film song and its use as a critical element of storytelling. It will touch the evolution of song picturisation techniques down the years, both technically and aesthetically, besides the golden age of film music, the 1950s, through some of our eminent composers, lyricists and choreographers. Works of filmmakers who have elevated song picturisation into an art form of its own - Guru Dutt, Vijay Anand and Mani Ratnam will be discussed. Also, film songs and their picturisation in contemporary times will be discussed.”

Karan Bali (FTII, Film Direction,1993) is a leading exponent of film music history. As a filmmaker, Bali has made several documentaries and also teaches filmmaking all over India. He has contributed considerably by writing on Indian cinema history in both, print and online media. The course is open to all, with no age bar. Admission for the course will be carried out on a first-come-first-served basis. The last date for applying is September 24. 
A similar course is also being conducted in Mumbai on September 29 and 30.