Skip to content
Art Deco
  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Careers
  • Guided Tours
  • Donate
  • Home
  • Gallery
  • Inventory
  • Research
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Careers
  • Guided Tours
  • Donate

The Art Deco Cinema: A Journey Beyond Bombay | Art Deco Mumbai

Jan 27, 2023

You may have seen the pioneering design of Regal Cinema, the majestic symmetry of Eros Cinema, the plush interiors of Liberty, and the international elegance of Metro. But what lies beyond the holy grail of south Mumbai’s Art Deco picture palaces? Tune in as our speaker Hemant Chaturvedi takes us on a voyage across India’s length and breadth, and challenge what you thought you knew about Art Deco cinemas!

Photographer and former cinematographer in the Mumbai film industry, Hemant set on an endless journey in 2019, travelling across 800 towns and driving 35,000 km alone in his jeep – all on a singular quest to document India’s rapidly vanishing single screen cinema history. He discovered some extraordinary Art Deco theatres in towns as disparate as Patiala, Allahabad, Kannur, Thrissur, and Madurai, to name only a few. This is a session illustrated with not only Hemant’s exceptional photographs, but also a rollercoaster ride of anecdotes, including the story of how he came to photograph 14 of W.M. Namjoshi’s 26 known works.

Following his talk, Hemant is joined in conversation by film critic Nandini Ramnath, as the two speakers discuss the merit in conserving these theatres, the expiration of a certain film viewing culture, and the madness that drove this passion project.

About the speakers:
Hemant Chaturvedi, an ace cinematographer in the Mumbai film business since 1985, worked on films like Ram Gopal Varma’s Company, Vishal Bhardwaj’s Makdee and Maqbool, and Aparna Sen’s 15 Park Avenue, to name only a few of his best known projects. In 2015, after filming 12 feature films and over 700 television commercials, Hemant gave up his successful career as a cinematographer, and returned to full-time still photography. As part of his photography oeuvre, he has been documenting old cinema theatres and British-era cemeteries.

Nandini Ramnath is currently the film editor at Scroll.in. She has been writing on film since 1998, starting out at The Indian Express, followed by stints at NDTV 24X7, Time Out Mumbai and Mint. In 2008, Nandini contributed a chapter on actress Smita Patil to the anthology Women In Indian Film (Zubaan Books). Her writing is known for her astute observations and a dedicated exploration of nuance.

Public Lectures
2 years ago
/
admin
/
592 views

You may also like

Back to the Future – 100 Years of Art Deco
54:55
Back to the Future – 100 Years of Art Deco
1 month ago
/
Adm Admin
/
157 views
Public Lectures
While Art Deco made up much of Bombay from the 1930s to the 50s, it debuted a decade prior in Paris, at the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. Celebrate this World Art Deco Day by winding the clock back to Art Deco’s origins, tracing its beginnings and ...
Bombay Art Deco - An Introduction by Prof. Mustansir Dalvi
1:15:12
Bombay Art Deco – An Introduction by Prof. Mustansir Dalvi
1 year ago
/
Adm Admin
/
138 views
Public Lectures
Shortly before Eros Cinema closed its doors in 2017, Art Deco Mumbai Trust hosted students from Columbia University, New York for a 'Bombay Deco Dekho' walking tour. The walk culminated in a lecture by Prof. Mustansir Dalvi at the preview theatre in Eros. It was perhaps the last such public ...
Indoor Deco: Styling Bombay's Modern Interiors - 1920s-40s | Art Deco Mumbai
46:05
Indoor Deco: Styling Bombay’s Modern Interiors – 1920s-40s | Art Deco Mumbai
2 years ago
/
admin
/
219 views
Public Lectures
In this public lecture, held at the historic Durbar Hall, Asiatic Society, Mumbai on 7th January 2023, Dr. Abigail McGowan, explores how Art Deco brought a wholly new approach to interior design. The turn of the 20th century transformed several facets of life in Bombay. Modern amenities, travel ...
Tropical Deco from Miami to Mumbai: Urban Futures, Precarious Currents | Art Deco Mumbai
1:47:42
Tropical Deco from Miami to Mumbai: Urban Futures, Precarious Currents | Art Deco Mumbai
2 years ago
/
admin
/
175 views
Public Lectures
As the 16th World Congress on Art Deco commences, we bring you this lecture from our archives in honour of the host city, Miami. In ‘Tropical Deco, Miami to Mumbai: Urban Futures, Precarious Currents’, held at the CSMVS Museum in 2018, Prof. Fredo Rivera, Grinnell College, Iowa, talks about the ...
The Systematic Process of Photo Documenting Mumbai’s Art Deco | A Session for Curating for Culture
29:07
The Systematic Process of Photo Documenting Mumbai’s Art Deco | A Session for Curating for Culture
2 years ago
/
admin
/
108 views
Public Lectures
On 15 October 2022, on the invitation of Curating for Culture, Art Deco Mumbai presented a glimpse into its documentation initiative. The session was conducted as part of Constructing Personal Archives 2022, a programme where selected archiving projects were mentored in related techniques and ...
Mumbai: Art Deco Jewel of India | Art Deco Mumbai
1:00:09
Mumbai: Art Deco Jewel of India | Art Deco Mumbai
3 years ago
/
admin
/
333 views
Public Lectures
In this webinar, presented for Art Deco Society of New York on 26 July 2020, our Founder Trustee Atul Kumar takes the participants on a virtual tour of select Art Deco buildings from the 1930s through the 40s and 50s. This era was also significant due to several occurrences in the country. ...
Bombay Hustle: Cinema as a Modern Workplace for Women | Art Deco Mumbai
1:45:25
Bombay Hustle: Cinema as a Modern Workplace for Women | Art Deco Mumbai
3 years ago
/
admin
/
272 views
Public Lectures
On a rainy August evening in Mumbai, we hosted Dr. Debashree Mukherjee, Associate Professor, Columbia University, New York, for a public lecture. “Bombay Hustle: Cinema as a Modern Workplace for Women” is an exploration of the life and work of the earliest female professionals in Bombay cinema, ...
Exploring Deco Delights – Global Cities: Mumbai and New York | Art Deco Mumbai
1:18:48
Exploring Deco Delights – Global Cities: Mumbai and New York | Art Deco Mumbai
3 years ago
/
admin
/
196 views
Public Lectures
Mumbai and New York, two cosmopolitan financial centres of the world, have another thing in common – both enthusiastically embraced the Art Deco style in the 20th century. This illustrated talk, held as part of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2021, focuses on developing an appreciation for this ...
Tags:

Post navigation

Previous PostPrevious Deco Dictionary: What Is ‘Colorcrete’? | Deco Decoded | Art Deco Mumbai
Next PostNext The Systematic Process of Photo Documenting Mumbai’s Art Deco | A Session for Curating for Culture
Blog Videos /
Related Stories
More in Blog /
  • Mumbai's Art Deco

    Marine Drive and the Void of the Back Bay – A Conversation with Rahul Mehrotra

  • Mumbai's Art Deco

    Tales from the Office of Master, Sathe & Bhuta

  • Uncategorized

    Know Your Type – A Conversation with Typographer Tanya George

  • Uncategorized

    Shanta's Shivaji Park

See all in blog
Digital diarist showcasing mumbai's art deco chronicler of its history Advocate for its conservation
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Google Arts
All Content is ©2017-2024 Art Deco Mumbai Trust. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Policy