In an attempt to offer a historical understanding of the audio-visual media in India, the book presents an analytical study of the portrayal of concepts and themes involving the nation, secularism, communalism, minorities, caste, gender, war and patriotism by Indian cinema and television. Arguing that these notions are central to Indian identities, it narrates the history of Indian cinema. It explores the relationship between fact and fiction, history and imagination, history and war, and cinema and social identities, pointing out that representations of social realities in the media shape popular mentality in India which has a long-standing and thriving film industry.