MUSEUM OF ART & PHOTOGRAPHY (MAP)

Contextualising Indian Film Ephemera

Bollywood Ephemera, Researcher: Cinema

The Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bengaluru, is one of India’s pioneering digital museums dedicated to art, photography, and culture.

With a mission to make Indian art accessible to all, MAP’s digital platform offers a rich array of collections, including a significant archive under Popular Culture, which showcases the legacy of Indian cinema. As part of this archive, MAP houses an extensive and carefully curated collection of cinema ephemera—including lobby cards, lobby stills, film posters, song booklets, and film scripts—each a visual and textual artifact of India’s vibrant film history.

Given our prior experience with projects documenting the history of Indian cinema, we were excited to contribute to this initiative. The focus of the project was to provide thoughtful contextualisation and accessible storytelling that would resonate with a diverse audience—from cinephiles and researchers to the general public. Our role involved research and writing for the various categories of memorabilia, supported by a descriptive note for each format to explain its historical and cultural relevance.

This primary effort was further enriched by secondary research, drawing from books, academic references, and a curated bibliography to ensure depth and accuracy.

We’re delighted this rare collection is now accessible through MAP’s online archive, public programs, and exhibits, preserving and sharing Indian cinema’s often-overlooked visual history.

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