An archival clipping about Maharaja Talkies, Indore, which was patronised by the princely elite. Pic/Media History Digital Archive

“The basic notion is that most of Indian history is portrayed through colonial centres, but we wanted to shed light on the culture of princely cities that were not directly under British control and maintained their own sovereignty,” explains Krishna, who has worked extensively in film history, as well as urban and Deccan history, with a focus on princely states for about 10 years.

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The exhibition showcases materials from museums and cultural archives and includes photographs by historical figures such as Raja Deen Dayal, court photographer to the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad in 1885, modernist Maharaja Yashwant Rao Holkar II, and the photographer duo Ramchandra Rao and Pratap Rao Jadhav.

C Yamini Krishna 

At the exhibition, visitors can watch films from that period, some of which feature royal actors. “These amateur films, where the maharaja and maharani take on starring roles, explore the intriguing question of why people perform for the camera and how photographic representation can alter one’s identity,” says Krishna.  

However, the focus is not solely on royalty. Baburao Painter, the father of Marathi cinema, gets his due recognition in the exhibition. His films, celebrated for their Bahujan identity and representation, offer a glimpse into the socio-political undercurrents of the time.

Niazi, an assistant professor at the Department of Media and Journalism at FLAME University, Pune, highlights the exhibition’s focus on dancing girls and courtesans who were often photographed for their charm. 

Sarah Niazi and Rutuja Deshmukh

“These performers were drawn to cinema for its new employment opportunities and artistic experimentation. Their legacy is evident in contemporary media as well” she explains. The exhibit also offers a glimpse into the lives of emerging elites, such as merchants and businessmen, who adopted photography to emulate princely rulers.

“Silent films, now digitised, are set to be screened in multiple formats, ensuring that they reach contemporary audiences in all their historical glory,” adds Deshmukh, a graduate teaching assistant at Michigan State University.

Instead of a conventional white-walled cube gallery, pictures will be hung through concrete beams, and be projected onto canvases.  Through its photo studio set-up, Chitramahal will also offer visitors a sense of what it felt like to pose for a photograph  in the  yesteryears.

When: August 10-18; 11 am-7 pm
Where: Harkat Studios, Versova
Cost: Rs 150