Adaptation and auteurism in South Asian Studies with reference to Rabindranath Tagore’s Works on Screen

Ahmed, Shah and Hasan, Md. Mahmudul and Ramlan, Wan Nur Madiha (2020) Adaptation and auteurism in South Asian Studies with reference to Rabindranath Tagore’s Works on Screen. Asiatic: IIUM Journal of English Language and Literature, 14 (1). pp. 259-272. ISSN 1985-3106

	PDF Restricted to Registered users only Download (306kB) | Request a copy
	PDF (scopus) - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (278kB) | Request a copy
Preview	PDF (wos) - Supplemental Material Download (122kB) | Preview

Abstract

Since its inception in the 1890s, cinema has been predominantly contingent upon literature for its source, growth and success. The curiosity to know what happens when a literary text is rendered into visual medium has led to a myriad of debates and discussions. Unlike in Europe and North America, in South Asia cinematic translation of literature has not received substantial scholarly attention and critical insights. As a result, the literary adaptations of Bengali authors are hardly discussed from the theoretical perspectives of adaptation studies. Contextualising adaptation studies in South Asia, especially in India and Bangladesh, this paper recommends the incorporation of auteurism in adaptation studies and argues that, like literary authors, artistic filmmakers (read adapters) are the authors of their films. It attempts to wean away adaptation discourse from the outmoded fidelity/infidelity debate and maintain that directorial transgression is an essential modality in the dynamics of literary adaptation for a successful intermedial rendition. In distinguishing auteurs from general adapters, we suggest that some of the adapting directors, especially those of Rabindranath Tagore’s works, can be evaluated from the auteurist premise of creative independence, technical competence and artistic imagination.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	6409/80732
Uncontrolled Keywords:	South Asian Studies; Rabindranath Tagore ; Bengali authors
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PI Oriental languages and literatures P Language and Literature > PK Indo-Iranian P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN2000 Dramatic representation. The Theater
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of English Language & Literature
Depositing User:	Dr. Md. Mahmudul Hasan
Date Deposited:	09 Jun 2020 10:41
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2021 21:33
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/80732

Actions (login required)

View Item