This film is part of Free

Lord Mayor at Asian "Do" at St. George's Hall

Quite possibly the first Indian concert to be put on in a theatre in Bradford, with striking classical Indian dancing and musical instruments.

Non-Fiction 1972 9 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for Yorkshire Film Archive
Watch for free

Overview

After some rather rough home movie footage of an Indian family on a continental holiday, the film settles down to show an Indian concert being put on in the presence of the Lord Mayor at St. George's Hall Bradford in 1972. The concert, to a predominantly Indian audience, consists of Indian dancing and music – unfortunately silent – and a comic magic act.

Although this film arrived in the collection from the Bradford filmmakers C H Wood, it isn’t known who took this film as it is not of their usual professional standards. The Indian population in Bradford was, and remains, significantly smaller than the Pakistani community – in 1991 it was 1.8% of the Bradford population, less than the national average. By 1972 both communities were fairly settled, having between them 260 businesses in Bradford. It was a time of rising racial tension, fuelled by Powell’s famous speech of 1968, the 1971 Immigration Act, the arrival of expelled Ugandan Asians and the activities of the National Front. St George's Hall is the oldest concert hall still in use in the United Kingdom.

Genres
Non-Fiction
Released
1972
Country
United Kingdom
Location
Bradford
Language
English

Subjects

Asian community in Great Britain Indian dancing Traditional Indian music