On Screen and Behind the Camera: Revisiting Early Indian Cinema

This illustrated talk by Kenneth X. Robbins explores the early decades of Indian cinema, often described as a “Golden Age”, through the actors, filmmakers, and writers who shaped the industry. Featuring film clips and archival material, the presentation highlights figures such as Sulochana, Rose, Ramola, Pramila, and Nadira, alongside filmmaker Ezra Mir and writer Joseph David Penkar, tracing the development of cinema’s visual language and popular appeal.

The talk briefly situates these contributions within the diverse social and professional backgrounds of early film practitioners of Indian-Jewish heritage, offering insight into lesser-known histories of Indian cinema and the people behind it.