Introduction

Among the global audiences for Bollywood cinema, the Arab world is one of the most prominent and the least understood. By examining historical and geographical contexts of film distribution, the book questions the essentialist narratives surrounding Bollywood’s Arab audience. It delves into the mechanisms of film circulation—networks, agents, and locations—revealing insights into South-South circuits. This introductory chapter clarifies key terminology, opting for “Hindi films” over Bollywood or Indian films and emphasizing “circulation” over distribution. It justifies the focus on urban centers like Beirut, Cairo, and Dubai during a postcolonial era, highlighting their significance in the transnational flow of cinematic culture. The chapter clarifies the methodology adopted, a transnational ethnographic approach aligned with New Cinema History methods. By unpacking these themes and methodologies, this chapter lays the groundwork for a deeper exploration of Bollywood’s reception in the Arab world, aiming to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the dynamics of cultural exchange.