This film is part of Free

Title of error

Boys' Home in Ahmednagar

What’s the hidden message inside this intriguing film, shot at a Salvation Army establishment in western India?

Non-Fiction 1905 1 mins Silent

Overview

This intriguing film seems to have a hidden message for us. It was apparently filmed in the grounds of a Salvation Army establishment in Ahmednagar, in Maharashtra, western India (the date is estimated and may be later than 1905). Groups of boys, clapping their hands in rhythmic unison, are arranged to make up various letters of an alphabet – clearly an ‘M’ at the start but some of the letters are less distinct. What do they spell?

Genres

Non-Fiction

Country

United Kingdom

Language

No Dialogue with English subtitles

Subjects

British Raj Boys Childcare Salvation Army Ahmadnagar Residential care

Watch for free

Temples of India Temples of India

Travelogue 1938 10 mins

Technicolor temple tour shot by the great Jack Cardiff

Watch for free

Sarnath, Benares & Santal Tribes Sarnath, Benares & Santal Tribes

Documentary 1934 27 mins Silent

Film of the Santhal tribe of North East India featuring Sarnath and Benares (Varanasi) in Uttar Pradesh.

Watch for free

Taj Mahal, Local Indian Scenes and a cruise to Port Said: Colonel Alexander Personal Film 5 Taj Mahal, Local Indian Scenes and a cruise to Port Said: Colonel Alexander Personal Film 5

Amateur film 1944 8 mins Silent

Luscious colour photography of the Taj Mahal and a Mediterranean cruise to Port Said

Watch for free

Gwalior Gwalior

Interest film 1922 0 mins Silent

The Prince of Wales and the Maharajah of Gwalior ride an elephant in a grand procession

Watch for free

Street Scenes in India: Colonel Alexander Personal Film 1 Street Scenes in India: Colonel Alexander Personal Film 1

Amateur film 1935 9 mins Silent

From the arrival of a new viceroy to street markets, this amateur film captures the diversity of life in colonial India

Watch for free

Khalapur Carpets Khalapur Carpets

Promotional 1932 12 mins Silent

Indian carpets make their way to Montreal in this promotional film

Watch for free

Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A

Short interview 2024 24 mins

Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

Watch for free

Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A

Short interview 2024 30 mins

Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.

Watch for free

Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell

Documentary 2024 42 mins

Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.

Watch for free

Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels

Short documentary 2024 12 mins

Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.