Amita Valmiki

In last two decades documentary films has been a core subject of film discussions in Philosophy and Film. Documentary speaks a language (though not ordinary language) through which communication takes place; in fact it is intended to convey »some thing« (though hermeneutics intended). Gregory Currie believes in cinema as a means of communication, and is representational. “Film is a representational medium; it is a means by which representations, themselves distinctively cinematic, are produced and displayed.” (1995, Pp. 2) This can be applied appropriately to documentaries. While Susanne Langer’s view, according to me, befits feature films; and that is, “Cinema is »like« dream in the mode of its presentation: it creates a virtual present, an order of direct apparition. That is the mode of dream.” (1953, Pp. 114).

The paper concentrates on the ontological debate between documentaries and feature film; and like Karl Jasper’s concept of »dialogical communication« – existenz to existenz can be applied in a »new ways of thinking film«, i.e. »docu-feature-film«; like biopics, political, social or economic startling events that make up the core content of documentaries can be incorporated in feature films. Taking examples from few of Indian films where documentaries and feature films have a wonderful collaboration has produced a new intriguing genre of cinema in India. Therefore there is a possibility of dialogical communication between documentary and feature films; and this ontological debate takes us to a new avenue of films in contemporary times.

Dr. Amita Valmiki is associate Professor and Head Department of Philosophy at Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College, Mumbai, India. She is a member of Board of Studies in Logic & Philosophy and a member of Faculty of Arts (University of Mumbai). She is Co-editor of the book »100 Years of Indian Cinema – Issues and Challenges in Retrospection«. Among her most important publications are the articles »The Path of Theistic Mysticism: The Only Hope for the Future?« (2015) and on »Dark Comedy – A Philosophical Introspection« (2013).