Representation of Indo-Canadian Diaspora: Cultural Identity, Bollywood, and the Canadian Context with reference to the Movie ‘Bollywood/Hollywood’

Abstract

Not all constructions of home in the diaspora result in overtly nationalistic sentiments. Visual culture provides diasporic communities a medium to connect with their homeland through shared affiliations and emotional ties. This study highlights the role of Bollywood as a cultural anchor, offering a shared framework for identity construction within the Indo-Canadian diaspora. By examining Rahul’s journey in Bollywood/Hollywood, the paper demonstrates how media representation fosters a sense of belonging while navigating the complexities of diasporic identity. Visual culture provides diasporic communities a medium to connect with their homeland through shared affiliations and emotional ties. Drawing from both Western and non-Western popular culture, diasporic imagination creates a transnational community bonded by kinship and sentiment.

This paper explores the concept of the “diasporic optic,” a term that refers to a perspective enabling individuals to engage with multiple cultural worlds simultaneously. It provides a lens to examine how media representation creates opportunities for negotiating identities across cultural differences.