First comprehensive account of the seven-decade long journey of the Film Society Movement in India, and how it helped Indian cinema come into its own. Till 1950s, 80 % of the films screened in India were from Hollywood. Today, only 10 % films shown in India are of foreign origin. One of the main factors that aided in bringing about this massive transformation was the formation of Film Societies in India. They soon became a catalyst to a new film culture, impacting quality of Indian films, both in technology and content. This book studies this historic Film Society movement, from its origin, to the crisis of its identity in the 80s and 90s to its revival in 2000s. It not only narrates the history, the heroes, the institutions, crises, technological changes and the transformation of the Film Society Movement but also debates on the future of this movement.