On March 22, 2025, the Indian Consulate in New York, in collaboration with the Indian Heritage & Cultural Association (IHCA), organized an engaging seminar titled “The Evolving Landscape of Indian Cinema: The Impact, Challenges, and Future of Indian Cinema on the International Stage.” The event took place at the Lake Chateau Banquet Hall in Woodbridge, New Jersey.
The keynote address was delivered by Padma Shri awardee Dr. Mohan Agashe, a highly respected and versatile actor who is also trained as a psychiatrist. Throughout his career, Dr. Agashe has earned numerous accolades, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1996 for theater, the Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Actor for his role in Astu, and the Punya Bhushan award in 2023. During his speech, he explored the intersection of psychology and acting, shedding light on how both disciplines are deeply intertwined.
The event commenced with remarks from opening speaker Archana Joglekar, an accomplished actress and classical dancer known for her contributions to Marathi, Odia, and Hindi cinema and television. A skilled Kathak dancer and choreographer, Joglekar also runs a dance academy for young students.
Consul General Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, introduced by IHCA co-host Dr. Ashok Chaudhary, highlighted the Consulate’s focus on celebrating Indian cinema throughout the year with various events across the Northeastern United States, including two upcoming programs in New York dedicated to fashion and Odia cinema.
Speaking on the relevance of the seminar, Pradhan remarked, “Today’s event is more contextual in the sense that we are not watching a movie. To a great extent, there is no point in watching a movie because we get to see movies in cinema halls here, we get to see movies on OTT platforms.So today’s event is rather more relevant when we talk about the evolving landscape of Indian cinema.”He lauded Dr. Agashe for his vast experience and deep understanding of both theater and film, as well as his expertise in psychology.
Joglekar reflected on her early days in the entertainment industry, describing her transition from theater to film in the 1980s. “When I started my career way back in 1984, close to 40-plus years back, it was a transition from Marathi professional theater,” she shared. She noted how different the industry was at the time, explaining that she did not go through formal auditions or casting calls. Instead, filmmakers often scouted actors from theater productions, and her performances in Marathi drama quickly caught their attention. “I was fortunate to be pampered and appreciated by everybody,” she recalled, adding that this recognition led to roles in both Marathi and Hindi films. She described the film set as a “very warm affair” where actors, co-actors, and senior artists interacted like family.
Dr. Agashe offered insights into the connection between psychology and communication. He emphasized the complexity of human interaction, stating, “When we are talking to each other in person, we are talking in three languages.” These include verbal language, body language, and sound language. “So the language of words goes through your brain for deciphering, body language from the subconscious, and the sound goes through the unconscious.”
To explain his point further, he drew an analogy to computer systems, comparing the unconscious mind to a hard drive and the conscious mind to RAM (random access memory). “That is why, unless you use proper commands, the unconscious doesn’t come to the conscious.” As a psychiatrist, he noted that he pays closer attention to how people communicate rather than what they say. “I go with what they communicate,” he explained.
Speaking to ITV Gold after the event, Dr. Agashe emphasized the significance of the discussion, calling it both “very important and very timely.” He underscored the necessity of understanding cinema’s evolution, stating, “We should know where we were, where we are, and where we are going. Because if we need some correction, that can be done at this stage. That enables the culture to retain its identity even as it becomes part of the world.”
Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, also shared his appreciation for the seminar. He praised the organizers for their efforts in hosting numerous cultural events throughout the year and described the current seminar as a “signature event” that offered valuable insights into Bollywood’s evolution over the past century.