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Film history framed in posters
A poster of Raj Kapoor and Nargis in "Barsaat"
DO YOU recall that good old poster of the film "Baarish'' in which Dev Anand held the cigarette coolly between his lips and became a cult figure overnight? Or for that matter, Rajesh Khanna growing a beard in "Do Raaste'' triggering a new trend in society!
These and other vintage posters do not just represent a piece of nostalgia. They are, in fact, pointers to the influence of cinema on society. "Most of us do not realise the sub- conscious influence films have on us,'' says Neville Tuli, who has for the first time curated a unique exhibition comprising film memorabilia including vintage posters, song synopsis booklets, lobby and show-cards of Hindi cinema between the 1930s and the 1970s.
Through his Osian which he proudly refers to as India's first auction house, Tuli has been able to position these posters in the realm of art, commanding the same visual and intellectual integrity as a painting or a piece of sculpture would. "And why not'' he asks. "We have all grown up on these films. Remember the first time Sharmila Tagore broke away from the image of the traditional heroine in `An Evening in Paris'. Can we ever forget it''
Acquiring these posters and other memorabilia from collectors has been a herculean task, but what has resulted from this exercise is an exhaustive collection which have all been restored through a scientific process. And along with the art and book, Tuli has brought this "Historical Mela -- The ABC of India'' to Delhiites for just two days, on Friday and Saturday to be precise.
Johnny Walker and Dhoomal in "Pyar Ka Bandhan"
``It is a sneak preview of the grand auction I am planning to hold in Mumbai on March 18. That has been the mission and methodology of Osian -- to foster respect for the arts and to create wealth out of it. Each catalogue here is a winner in its own right,'' says Tuli, who had on earlier occasions held an auction of fine arts comprising photographic and textual archives.
``No one has respected these posters before, let alone see it as significant milestones of a never ending cultural and social journey. Our mission is not just confined to restoring posters or other film memorabilia. Instead, it inspires people to fall in love with cinema again,'' he adds.
Hoping that this would indeed become a trend setter, Tuli says he plans to bring film memorabilia from other parts of the country to the realm of art. "In the next phase, I will cover the architectural history of India. Indeed, linking modern art and cinema to architecture is the next logical thing to do,'' he muses.
By K. Kannan
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Life
Bangalore
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Coimbatore
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Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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