THE Australian Centre for the Moving Image’s free Bombay Talkies exhibition will showcase the Dietze Family Trust Archive, a collection of more than 300 cultural artefacts gathered from the legendary Indian film studio Bombay Talkies.
This extraordinary archive, which traces Indian cinema’s journey from silent film to sound, represents the most comprehensive collection of 1920s-40s Indian film studio ephemera in the world.
Entrepreneurial film-maker Himansu Rai (1892-1940) and his movie star wife Devika Rani (1908-1994) played a key role in the development of mainstream Bombay cinema. After creating landmark silent films in the 1920s based on traditional Indian stories, which were largely seen in Europe, they turned their attention to home.
As co-founders of Bombay Talkies, they aimed to make films about contemporary India that would speak to a wide audience.
Running for 20 years and releasing 40 films, Bombay Talkies was one of India’s most innovative and highly resourced movie studios.
It is credited with introducing the musical narrative structure that characterises modern Bollywood, and launched the careers of film industry luminaries including superstars Ashok Kumar (1911-2001) and Leela Chitnis (1909-2003).
Open daily 10am-5pm. Entry free.
- www.acmi.net.au, (03) 8663-2200