Though the territorial world we live in is pretty and glamorizing, it also lacks anything real other than chagrin, monotony and general annoyance. Over centuries and trans-continentally, the deprived and defenestrated human beings have exalted, glorified and revered explosive sexuality, longing and desire in many forms. In the pre-technological era sans automation and mechanics, spiritual poetry and erotic verses has remained two of the most popular forms of devotion to the beloved. Eroticism and Mysticism in love often appears confusingly entangled and inextricable. It often becomes hard to discern whether there is erotic love camouflaged under the illusion of mysticism, or there is mystical spiritual love tacitly masquerading as erotic proclivity. In spite of sensual badgering and carnal victimization, the concupiscent poets and poeticules dared to write candidly and canonize their sybaritic love for the beloved. Many of them vanished, engulfed and eclipsed into their beloved. Many of them dispersed, subsumed and merged subconsciously with their demiurge. What remains back is their enthralling and intrepid chronicle of love and longing, desire and affection. Presented in this book are a compendium of translated verses and songs of love & devotion to the “Beloved & the Lover” - across the Indian Heartlands and Persian Frontiers. You will discover that your longings are universal longings, you are not alone.

A detailed up-to-date survey of the most important woman writer from Greco-Roman antiquity. Examines the nature and context of her poetic achievement, the transmission, loss and rediscovery of her poetry, and the reception of that poetry in cultures far removed from ancient Greece, including Latin America, India, China, and Japan.

The largest film industry in the world after Hollywood is celebrated in this updated and expanded edition of a now classic work of reference. Covering the full range of Indian film, this new revised edition of the Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema includes vastly expanded coverage of mainstream productions from the 1970s to the 1990s and, for the first time, a comprehensive name index. Illustrated throughout, there is no comparable guide to the incredible vitality and diversity of historical and contemporary Indian film.

Rumi the Persian poet is widely acknowledged as being the greatest Sufi mystic of his age. He was the founder of the brotherhood of the Whirling Dervishes. This is a collection of his poetry.

Mirza Ghalib is to the Urdu language what William Shakespeare is to the English language. And the most widely read Urdu book in the world is a collection of the Love Sonnets of Ghalib. These sonnets resonate with the voices of maestros through the corridors of history. Ghalib is not just an Asian phenomenon and his sonnets are loved and studied worldwide.

A befitting tribute to the poet who once described himself as 'collyrium for men's eyes', freely offering to make their vision cleaner.

Drawing on the work of a large team of specialists, this book contains 500 entries on all the leading directors, stars, studios and genres in Indian cinema. In addition to comprehensive filmographies, it also features 1450 entries on key films from all periods and regions, with cast and credits as well as concise critical evaluations. A chronicle of film history, together with basic production statistics and an index, complete the volume.

Papers presented at an international conference in 1996.