Cinema in India has been seen as an alternative to an evening at the circus. Or a visit to the zoo. The audience is a passive observer, constantly being told when to laugh, when to cry and when to feel excitement. Over the years, this prescriptive manner of telling people what is meant to be funny, beautiful, repulsive or sexually attractive, has largely shaped perspectives of the masses on such matters. But in complete contrast to this, cinema evolved in certain other parts of the world as a potent medium of reflection, leaving it to the audience to decide what they make of it.