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East and North-East India
A journey from Odisha to Kolkata to the Buddhist communities of West Bengal and the diverse people of the north-eastern states.
From home movie footage of Puri in 1927 we head via Ranchi and Patna to Kolkata and an extraordinary selection of films shot in the former colonial capital. Heading north on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway we stop off in Sikkim to witness spectacular Buddhist processions filmed in colour. Heading east, the collection highlights the ethnographic films shot by explorers across the north-easten states. The collection includes films from Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

Boat Repairs - Sunderbans Boat Repairs - Sunderbans
Amateur film 1935 11 mins Silent
Stunning colour footage showing colonial life in the hills of Assam and bustling activity on the lakes below

Devil Dancers of Sikkim Devil Dancers of Sikkim
Travelogue 1934 9 mins
Hear the Lama band, see the sacred dances: welcome to Sikkim, in the shadow of the Himalayas.

Sir John Laing Missionary Films Calcutta, Darjeeling & Bihar Sir John Laing Missionary Films Calcutta, Darjeeling & Bihar
Amateur film 1947 12 mins Silent
Rare amateur footage of East India

Darjeeling: A Foothill Town Darjeeling: A Foothill Town
Travelogue 1934 10 mins
Evocative travelogue exploring life at the foot of the Himalayas, including tea gardens and a Buddhist shrine

Panorama of Calcutta, India, From the River Ganges. Panorama of Calcutta, India, From the River Ganges.
Non-Fiction 1899 2 mins Silent
One of the earliest films to be shot in India apparently shows the Calcutta ghats - or does it?

Scenes at his Excellency the Viceroys's Garden Party at Belvedere Scenes at his Excellency the Viceroys's Garden Party at Belvedere
Non-Fiction 1926 6 mins Silent
Indian high society enjoy themselves at a Calcutta garden party held to welcome the new Viceroy, Lord Irwin.

Picturesque India or, In and About Calcutta Picturesque India or, In and About Calcutta
Travelogue 1913 5 mins Silent
Botanical gardens in Bombay (now Mumbai) plus the highly decorative Jain Temple in Calcutta (now Kolkata) as they were in 1913.

Ranchi and Patna Ranchi and Patna
Amateur film 1929 13 mins Silent
Amateur footage around Bihar and what is now Jharkhand in east India

Her Excellency Lady Lytton at the Victoria Memorial Her Excellency Lady Lytton at the Victoria Memorial
Non-Fiction 1922 2 mins Silent
Lady Pamela Lytton, wife of the Governor of Bengal, visits the grand marble Victoria Memorial in Calcutta (Kolkata)

Imphal Bazaar Imphal Bazaar
Amateur film 1934 18 mins Silent
Richly detailed home movie shot in Manipur by G.P. Stewart, member of the Indian Civil Service

Men Seeking God Men Seeking God
1930 11 mins Silent
An inside view of Methodism taking root in India – and dealing with leprosy.

Old Barak Old Barak
Amateur film 1947 13 mins Silent
Glorious colour film of a fishing trip and geese-hunting expedition in north-eastern India

From England to India by Air From England to India by Air
Documentary 1917 12 mins Silent
A state welcome for a Handley Page aircraft arriving in Kolkata

Gurkhas and Shillong Scenery Gurkhas and Shillong Scenery
Amateur film 1930 12 mins Silent
The festival of Dashian is celebrated in rural India - including scenes of animal sacrifice

Puri Puri
Amateur film 1927 10 mins Silent
Unguarded images of Europeans and Indians at Puri on the Bay of Bengal

Refugee Camp at Nampong Refugee Camp at Nampong
Amateur film 1942 11 mins Silent
Film document of a true act of heroism in the wake of a Namphuk River flood

A Foot-hill Town A Foot-hill Town
Documentary 1937 9 mins
Darjeeling - a portrait of the Raj hill station made for schools

Edward Prince of Wales' Tour of India: Calcutta and Delhi Edward Prince of Wales' Tour of India: Calcutta and Delhi
Travelogue 1921 18 mins Silent
The future Edward VIII opens a durbar and enjoys a day at the races before inspecting the fire brigade in Calcutta

Bhutan Bhutan
Amateur film 1928 14 mins Silent
This amateur film captures the Maharajah of Bhutan watching the marking of the Assam/Bhutan boundary.

Duke of Connaught's Indian Tour Duke of Connaught's Indian Tour
Non-Fiction 1921 3 mins Silent
In this newsreel report the Duke rides an elephant as he ventures on safari in Bengal.

Cuttack Leper Asylum Cuttack Leper Asylum
Documentary 1930 3 mins Silent
Amateur film featuring scenes at an Indian leper colony

Governor's Durbar, Bihar and Orissa Governor's Durbar, Bihar and Orissa
Amateur film 1929 18 mins Silent
Official duties and big game hunting in 1920s India, filmed by Lord Stephenson’s private secretary

Car Assembly, Calcutta Car Assembly, Calcutta
Amateur film 1926 2 mins Silent
Motorcars take shape - outdoors in a Kolkata yard

Magnus Family in India Magnus Family in India
Amateur film 1927 12 mins Silent
A colonial family record their travels as they holiday around north and eastern India

Viceroy's Cup Race Viceroy's Cup Race
Non-Fiction 1917 13 mins Silent
Lords and ladies gather in Calcutta (Kolkata) for the Viceroy’s Cup, an exclusive horseracing event, in this actuality film.

Grand Lodge Deputation to India Grand Lodge Deputation to India
Amateur film 1927 7 mins Silent
Footage shot during an intrepid hunting trip in India

Guthrie Collection - Gangtok and Sikkim Trip - C. 1935 Guthrie Collection - Gangtok and Sikkim Trip - C. 1935
Amateur film 1935 16 mins Silent
Amateur footage of a trip into the Himalaya

Trip to Manipur Trip to Manipur
Amateur film 1935 17 mins Silent
Amateur film of a road trip through northeastern India, showing traditional dances and a gigantic flower float

Shillong Scenes Shillong Scenes
Amateur film 1932 19 mins Silent
Golf - and other pursuits - in the 'abode of clouds'

Arrival of the Earl of Lytton at Calcutta Arrival of the Earl of Lytton at Calcutta
Non-Fiction 1922 7 mins Silent
Lord Lytton takes up the post of Governor of Bengal

Sir Basil Gould Collection No. 7 - Procession at Gangtok Sir Basil Gould Collection No. 7 - Procession at Gangtok
Amateur film 1940 13 mins Silent
Traditional games, dancing and music among the people of Sikkim - in vivid colour

Manufacturing Ropes and Marine Cables at Howrah, Near Calcutta Manufacturing Ropes and Marine Cables at Howrah, Near Calcutta
Non-Fiction 1909 8 mins Silent
Strung out on hemp and coconuts: Indian industry supplies a maritime fix

S.E. Tibet and E. Bhutan S.E. Tibet and E. Bhutan
Amateur film 1938 17 mins Silent
Amateur footage of a trip to Tibet and Bhutan, including shots of the flora and fauna.

Lady Stephenson's Fete: Tiger Shoot Lady Stephenson's Fete: Tiger Shoot
Amateur film 1928 17 mins Silent
Eccentric home movie scenes of the high life in British India, shot by Lord Stephenson’s private secretary

Polo at Patna: Leopard Shoot Polo at Patna: Leopard Shoot
Amateur film 1928 16 mins Silent
Amateur film of a polo match at Patna, Bihar, followed by scenes of elephants and a leopard hunt.

Indian Scenes Indian Scenes
Travelogue 1906 11 mins Silent
Remarkable early documentary turning the camera on life in Kolkata and Mumbai

Ukhrul Medical Tour Ukhrul Medical Tour
Amateur film 1934 11 mins Silent
A doctor and party visit the villages of eastern Manipur in India's far north east

Government House Garden Party 1923 Government House Garden Party 1923
Non-Fiction 1923 2 mins Silent
Scenes at a garden party given by Earl Lytton, Governor of Bengal, at Government House, Calcutta (now Kolkata).

Calcutta Pageant Calcutta Pageant
Ceremony 1912 4 mins Silent
A lavish pageant held during the royal visit to India, celebrating King George V’s coronation

Horse Artillery at Bihar and Orissa Horse Artillery at Bihar and Orissa
Amateur film 1928 10 mins Silent
Amateur film surveying colonial life in eastern India

Annual Inspection of the Bodyguard by His Excellency Lord Lytton Annual Inspection of the Bodyguard by His Excellency Lord Lytton
Non-Fiction 1925 4 mins Silent
The Governor of Bengal and family - on and off duty.

Procession of Elephants at Jaipur; Galta; Raj Mahal Procession of Elephants at Jaipur; Galta; Raj Mahal
Amateur film 1933 12 mins Silent
Armoured elephants, sacred monkeys and a camel carriage feature in Col. George Craster’s home movie despatch from Rajasthan

Calcutta Topical Calcutta Topical
Non-Fiction 1926 10 mins Silent
Extravagant military ceremonies and the start of the Calcutta (Kolkata) 'season'

Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine Film Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine Film
Documentary 1927 15 mins Silent
Indian medical film about the parasitic disease kala azar

Calcutta Topical No. 1 for 1925 Calcutta Topical No. 1 for 1925
Non-Fiction 1925 6 mins Silent
Fashionably attired folk attend the races in Kolkata

Viceroy's Cup at Calcutta Viceroy's Cup at Calcutta
Sport 1929 16 mins Silent
Film of the 1929 Viceroy’s Cup horse race held in Calcutta (Kolkata).

Royal Visit to India and Nepal Royal Visit to India and Nepal
Non-Fiction 1922 7 mins Silent
Edward, Prince of Wales, visits India and Nepal and goes on a tiger hunt.

Darjeeling - Sir Stanley Jackson Darjeeling - Sir Stanley Jackson
Amateur film 1937 10 mins Silent
Home movie hinting at the opulence of life for some British officials in India

Tours in Southern Bengal - In the Sunderbans Tours in Southern Bengal - In the Sunderbans
Amateur film 1935 12 mins Silent
Everyday life and places of interest around the areas of Midnapore and Chittagong, including steamers and Indian boats along the Damodar river.

Rathjatra, Bone Ceremony Rathjatra, Bone Ceremony
Amateur film 1936 4 mins Silent
Home movie footage of a sword dance and ceremonies in Manipur, shot by a member of the Indian Civil Service

Kangchenjunga 1955 Kangchenjunga 1955
Amateur film 1955 107 mins Silent
Amateur footage of the British expedition to Kangchenjunga in 1955. Led by Charles Evans, this expedition saw the first ascent of the mountain.

Fourth Everest Expedition Fourth Everest Expedition
Amateur film 1933 76 mins Silent
Percy Wyn-Harris' filmic record of the 1933 expedition, led by Hugh Ruttledge.

Climbing Mt Everest Climbing Mt Everest
Non-Fiction 1922 83 mins Silent
The first film of Tibet, by Captain John Noel from the 1922 British expedition to Mount Everest, which was led by Brigadier General Charles Bruce.

P.R. Oliver Everest Expedition P.R. Oliver Everest Expedition
Amateur film 1938 59 mins Silent
Amateur footage directed by Peter Oliver documenting the ‘Mount Everest Expedition 1938’, which was led by Bill Tilman.

Sherriff Kodacolour No. 1 Sherriff Kodacolour No. 1
Amateur film 1935 8 mins Silent
Colour film of Sikkim / Tibet (no sound), photographed by Scottish explorer and plant collector George Sherriff in 1935.

Sherriff Kodacolour No. 2 Sherriff Kodacolour No. 2
Amateur film 1935 9 mins Silent
Colour film of Sikkim / Tibet (no sound), photographed by Scottish explorer and plant collector George Sherriff in 1935.

Sherriff Kodacolour No. 3 Sherriff Kodacolour No. 3
Amateur film 1935 6 mins Silent
Colour film of Sikkim / Tibet (no sound), photographed by Scottish explorer and plant collector George Sherriff in 1935.