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It’s a well-known fact that Mumbai and Bollywood are in fact two sides of the same coin. Each effortlessly synonymous with the other and perhaps one of the main reasons for why Mumbai is romanticised as much as it is. But apart from a stroll along Carter road leading up to Shah Rukh Khan’s extravagant “Mannat” or a peek outside Amitabh Bachchan’s residence on Sunday evenings (both of which are very underwhelming experiences), there isn’t any place for people to truly get that Bollywood experience. Which is quite odd considering how erstwhile Bombay is where Hindi cinema, eventually christened as “bollywood”, was birthed in the first place.
Just last month, Mumbai welcomed the magic of India’s first museum dedicated entirely to the world of reel. Located in Cumbala Hill, the National Museum Of Indian Cinema is a unique celebration of all things that formally comprise Indian cinema. Mapping over a century worth of cinematic developments, the museum is first-of-its-kind and houses everything from memorabilia, recordings, and filmmaking equipment. Visitors can also watch clippings from iconic movies. Tracing the journey of Indian cinema from the silent era to modern-day blockbusters, the museum is a venture meant to both educate and entertain. From a life-size statue of Bollywood icon Raj Kapoor to iconic hand-painted posters, there’s just so much to see.
However, Indian cinema isn’t just Bollywood, although that might be the perception sometimes. India has always been a hotbed of films spanning across various regions and languages and the National Museum Of Indian Cinema makes sure to not overlook these timeless contributions by creating space for films made in more than 25 Indian languages.
Housed in a 19th-century Victorian bungalow and a relatively modern glass building adjacent to it, this museum has two parts to it. The former traces the evolution of Indian cinema while the latter is where the entire experience becomes more interactive. In many ways, the division between what’s inside the two buildings is reflective of its exterior appearance as well.
From the first Lumeire Brother film screening in Bombay to the discovery of sound in films to parallel cinema that came like a breath of fresh air, the bungalow is divided into eight halls. Each covering a unique aspect of the history of Indian cinema. Whereas the new building comprises 4 halls (Gandhi and Cinema, Children’s Film Studio, Technology, Creativity and Indian Cinema, and Cinema Across India) and a cafeteria.
A distinct state of the art experience, the museum will also be hosting film screenings every day and is an ode to anyone and everyone who has contributed to such a rich cinematic heritage. Moreover, iconic veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal is himself heading the Museum Advisory Committee so one can expect this to be a memorable and impactful experience.
For more details, you can visit the official website.
Feature image credit: The Peninsular
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