Matthew Cook, assistant professor of South Asian and postcolonial studies

Matthew Cook says he wants N.C. Central University’s South Asian studies program to get noticed by students.

Cook, NCCU’s new assistant professor of South Asian/postcolonial studies, has a plan: Have a film series.

South Asia refers to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and several smaller countries.

“India is an increasingly important region of the world,” said Cook.

“A South Asian studies program will better prepare students to be participants in global society and economy.”

The first film in the series, “The Rising: The Ballad of Mangal Pandey,” is a so-called Bollywood classic.

“Bollywood” mixes the words Bombay and Hollywood to refer to the Indian film industry.

The film, set in India during the Indian Mutiny of 1857, focuses on how the country’s evolving political atmosphere affected the friendship between an Indian soldier and his British superior officer.

“The Rising” will be shown Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.

The second film in the series, “A Passage to India,” is based on the classic E.M. Forster novel.

The film explores how the politics of colonialism affect personal friendship. It will show on Thursday, March 6 at 7 p.m.

The last film in the series, “Earth,” will show on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m.

“Earth” explores the religious-based division of Pakistani Muslims and Indian Hindus and the negative effects of friendships between members of these groups.

All films will be screened in the Townes Science Complex, room 2221.

Cook has an extensive background in South Asian studies, including a working knowledge of Hindi, one of India’s many languages.

Cook teaches South Asian courses in both the history and English departments at NCCU.

NCCU is a part of the South Asia center located at Duke University, which is part of a larger consortium that includes N.C. State University and UNC-Chapel Hill.

The consortium provides resources for concentrated studies of South Asia, and is one of only 11 such consortia in the United States.

Students and faculty at all universities involved in the South Asia center are invited to attend the film series.

Along with the film series, NCCU plans to expand course offerings in South Asian history and host public lectures related to South Asia.

Cook also hopes to expand NCCU’s Hindi telecourse by bringing in a Fulbright teaching assistant to serve as an on-site tutor to proctor NCCU’s part of the course.

Cook said he hopes to increase the popularity and general presence of South Asian studies, which is part of NCCU’s larger plan to initiate more global studies programs.