Dr. Swarnavel Eswaran Pillai

Professor

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Biography

Swarnavel Eswaran Pillai is a Professor in the Department of English and the School of Journalism at Michigan State University, specializing in film history, theory, and production. He graduated from the Film Television Institute of India and the University of Iowa. His documentaries include 'Nagapattinam: Waves Deep' (2018) and 'Hmong Memories Crossroad' (2016), and he has published extensively on Tamil Indian cinema's history, aesthetics, and politics. His books, such as 'Tamil Cinema Reviews: 1931-1960' and 'Madras Studios: Narrative, Genre, Ideology Tamil Cinema', reflect his scholarly contributions to the field. He actively engages students in discussions about race, gender, and identity through cinema, aiming to foster cultural understanding and peaceful coexistence. Eswaran's work has been recognized both nationally and internationally, with his feature 'Kattumaram' screened at over fifty international film festivals. His artistic and teaching endeavors are driven by a belief in cinema's power to educate and effect social change.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

— Present

Michigan State University • East Lansing, MI

Teaches film history, theory, and production.

Awards

#

Teacher-Scholar Award

Courses

DS 103: Media History FLM 260: Introduction Digital Cinema Media ENG/FLM 334: Screenwriting ENG 332: Historical Approaches Film MI/ENG/JRA/WRA 311: Introduction Documentary History, Theory, Production TC/ENG/JRN/WRA 411 491: Documentary Design ENG 430: Seminar Film Media Theory: Authorship Genre FLM 336: Aesthetics Film Editing ENG 333: Gangster Film ENG 333: Popular Hindi Cinema ENG 360: Postcolonial Cinema Diaspora TC/ENG 491: Short Film: Writing Directing FLM 450: Ethnic Film: Indian/Hindi Cinema FLM 301: Film History

Requirements for Michigan State University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:17
Reading
Required:17
Writing
Required:17
Speaking
Required:17
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:6.5
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field At least 15 credits in psychology courses
Application Checklist
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Specialization Notes

Department of Psychology