Madras - Mylapore Tank and Religious Processions (1932)

Part of India on Film: 1899 – 1947
This collection of newly digitised films is part of the BFI's contribution to the UK-India Year of Culture 2017, in partnership with the British Council. View more films on BFI Player http://player.bfi.org.uk/collections/... (UK only)


Festivities in Chennai - The thronging streets of Chennai in festive mood are captured by this lively amateur film.

In festive season, the streets of Madras (now Chennai), capital of Tamil Nadu, thronging with people and vividly impressive religious floats, are caught on camera by this vibrant 16mm amateur film. The illuminations of the 'floating festival' at the close prove a challenge too far for the camera, but the images at least give us a sense of the spectacle.

Frustratingly, the name of the gifted amateur filmmaker who shot this film appears to be lost to us. The film wsa one of a considerable collection of amateur films donated to the BFI National Archive in the 1970s by the Centre of South Asian Studies at the University of Cambridge.


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