Bollywood's Visual Journey: 70 Years on Postcards

Nostalgia for Bollywood's golden era is on display at Kokoro Art Gallery in Lucknow through the exhibition 'Bioscope: Karwaan Guzar Gaya.' This solo show by IAS officer and collector Suboor Usmani presents around 70 film postcards that meticulously chart the visual evolution of Hindi cinema. The exhibition, curated by Vandana Sehgal, extends from the classic film 'Pukar' (1939) to the contemporary 'Dhurandhar' (2025).

The collection captures the shift in Bollywood's promotional art, moving from hand-painted portraits and dramatic typography to photographic collages and digitally produced imagery. This visual transformation reflects changes in technology, artistic practices, social values, and popular imagination over the decades. Featured postcards from films like 'Ram Raj' (1943), 'Mughal-e-Azam' (1960), 'Pakeezah' (1972), 'Swades' (2004), and 'Rang De Basanti' (2006) offer a cross-generational view.

Usmani shared that his passion for movie history and collecting postcards led to this exhibition, with many pieces acquired from antique sellers and flea markets, alongside gifted items. Sehgal noted that Bollywood posters have developed a unique visual language deeply embedded in Indian culture. The exhibition remains open daily from 11 am to 6 pm until August 20th.