Bombay Talkies: 60 Photographs from the Josef Wirsching Collection

Bombay Talkies: 60 Photographs from the Josef Wirsching Collection celebrates the history of Indian cinema through an exclusive selection of digital photographs from German cinematographer Josef Wirsching’s archive. Wirsching, who first came to India in 1925 to work on Light of Asia, was captivated by the country and returned nearly a decade later to collaborate with Himanshu Rai in the creation of the legendary Bombay Talkies studio in 1934. Over the years, Bombay Talkies produced a series of successful films that launched the careers of iconic stars like Devika Rani, Ashok Kumar, Meena Kumari, and Dilip Kumar. The studio also became a crucial training ground for young professionals in the film industry, focusing on areas such as cinematography, sound, light, and costume design. The exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the early years of Indian cinema, showcasing behind-the-scenes shots, production stills, and publicity images that document the dynamic process of filmmaking. Josef Wirsching’s photographs capture the professional industry in action, revealing the creative and technical decisions that contributed to the development of a globally recognized film industry. Through these images, we gain insight into the international collaborations and cross-cultural exchanges that defined the early years of Bombay Talkies and its socially and politically relevant films, which addressed themes such as caste discrimination, the plight of dancing girls, and the challenges faced by modern women.

Click HERE to view a curated walkthrough of the Bombay Talkies exhibition at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya and Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation in collaboration with Alkazi Foundation for the Arts, March 2024

For additional details about the artists and the exhibition, click Download Catalogue