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Bollywood Posters: A Trip Down Memory Lane
12 Sep
Summary
- Exhibition showcases hand-painted Bollywood posters from yesteryears.
- Collection features works by Renuka Tandon and Kanak Rekha Chauhan.
- Iconic films like Mughal-e-Azam and Ram Rajya were highlighted.
A city art gallery recently presented 'Bioscope: Karwan Guzar Gaya,' an exhibition that celebrated the bygone era of Bollywood through its vibrant, maximalist film posters. The collection, amassed by IRS officer and archivist Suboor Usmani, featured hand-painted posters alongside contemporary digital works, trivia, and anecdotes.
Visitors were treated to iconic imagery from films such as Mughal-e-Azam, Aan, Bhuvan Shome, and Umrao Jaan. A particularly highlighted piece was a vibrant poster for Ram Rajya (1943), noted as the only Indian film believed to have been watched by Mahatma Gandhi. The exhibition also included patriotic films like Son of India and Saat Hindustani, coinciding with an Independence Day showcase.
Suboor Usmani, who has been collecting film memorabilia since childhood, shared his lifelong fascination with cinema as the driving force behind his collection. Curator Dr. Vandana Sehgal explained the exhibition's intent to create a relatable experience, stating that while abstract art may not appeal to everyone, Bollywood possesses a universal resonance.
