Through its long legacy of image-making and the diversity of the Indian filmmaking industry, the exhibition will highlight the depth and richness of the Indian subcontinent’s art and civilization.
The exhibition highlights the rich history of Indian cinema from its origins in the late 19th Century up to the present through more than 80 artworks, including pictures, textiles, graphic arts, costumes, and more than 30 film clips.
The pieces of art are drawn from the collections of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Jacques Chirac Museum at the Quai Branly, the Army Museum, the Guimet National Museum of East Asian Art, the al-Sabah Collection, the Raja Ravi Varma Heritage Foundation, and the Priya Paul Collection.
India, the top film producer in the world, today makes more than 1,500 movies annually in close to 20 different languages, which are then distributed throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Through Bollywood Superstars, visitors to the museum will learn how Indian pioneers used developing image technologies like lithography and photography to jumpstart the development of early motion pictures into large-scale musical productions.
Visitors will learn more about Bollywood’s global popularity and have a greater appreciation for the variety of Indian cinema. The thorough exhibits cover every aspect of Indian cinema’s history, from pre-cinema, dancing, and storytelling, to the influence of religion and mythology, and the emergence of Bollywood celebrities.
“Bollywood Superstars is a feast not just to Indian audiences, who are among the most significant nationalities that visit Louvre Abu Dhabi, but also to everyone with a hunger for the rich culture of the sub-continent and its roots,” said Manuel Rabaté, director of Louvre Abu Dhabi.
President of the Museum of the Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, Emmanuel Kasarhérou, stated, “The high caliber and uniqueness of Bollywood Superstars’ content make it stand out. Visitors to the Louvre Abu Dhabi are sure to find it appealing.”
“This exhibition is a tribute to Bollywood and can be enjoyed by both Indian cinema lovers and the larger audience,” said the exhibition’s curators Julien Rousseau and Hélène Kessous.
Director of Scientific, Curatorial, and Collections Management of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Dr. Souraya Noujaim, stated: “This exhibit offers a singular perspective on a body of art with a rich past and vibrant present. Visitors will learn about the depth of the Indian cinema industry’s history and obtain a distinctive understanding of the diversity of genres that influenced its development.”
We’ll let you know more information about the cultural and educational programme that goes along with Bollywood Superstars: A Short Story of Indian Cinema later.
Visit louvreabudhabi.ae or dial 600 56 55 66 for additional details about the exhibit and to make reservations. With normal admission tickets to the museum, entry to the exhibition is free. Children under the age of 18 are not charged to enter the museum.