Veteran film critic and author Aruna Vasudev, known as ‘mother of Asian cinema’, dies at 88

“She was the pioneer for making Asian films, a genre to be talked about as a separate identity of its own. There are many laurels to her credit, but I will always remember her for her warmth and radiant smile. Her observations were always insightful and I enjoyed being with her a lot. My condolences to her family. RIP dear, dearest Aruna,” actor Shabana Azmi posted on Instagram.

Between 1967 and 1979, Vasudev has also directed or produced around 20 documentaries for Swedish TV, Canadian International Development Agency, Belgian TV, War on Want, London, and Films Division and Doordarshan in India. She had also edited or co-edited several books, including a translation from French into English of Jean-Claude Carriere’s ‘In Search of the Mahabharata: Notes of Travels in India with Peter Brook’.

Neville Tuli, founder of Tuli Research Centre for India Studies, described Vasudev as the “epitome of a confident individuality rooted in a deep knowledge and appreciation for creativity, cinema, scholarship and genuine compassion”.

“Her thoughts were rooted in that rare desire to nurture young and independent-minded film enthusiasts, who wanted to make cinema their life. Naturally, she did not suffer fools or mediocrity gladly,” Tuli told PTI.

In recognition of her contribution to cinema and arts, the French government felicitated her with some of the highest cultural honours. These included Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters) in 2019, and Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) in 2002.