GOOGLE ARTS & CULTURE
Cinematic Treasures: Preserving the Golden Era of Hindi Cinema
Consultant: Hindi Cinema Project
- point of view
Google Arts & Culture (GA&C) partners with cultural institutions, experts, and artists worldwide to preserve and bring global art and heritage online—making it accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Hindi cinema, with its enchanting legacy, has profoundly shaped India’s cultural identity for over a century. Recognizing this, GA&C set out to craft an online tribute to the richness of India’s filmmaking tradition and the enduring popularity of Hindi films
We were thrilled to hear from the GA&C team, as their vision strongly aligned with our own long-standing commitment to documenting the history of Hindi cinema and making it accessible to a global audience. The focus of the collaboration was the Golden Era of Hindi cinema—the 1950s and 1960s—aiming to present a research-driven exploration of its influence through multiple lenses.
Drawing on our deep network within the Hindi film industry and prior experience with historical cinema projects, we developed a comprehensive research paper structured around the History, Form, and Influence of this golden period. It delved into iconic stars, landmark films and music, the studio system, technological evolution, and modes of distribution and exhibition.
To enrich the project further, we facilitated introductions and meetings with the families of celebrated film artists and historic studios in Mumbai such as music composer Madan Mohan, actress Nutan, V. Shantaram of Rajkamal Kalamandir Studios, to name a few. These personal interactions unlocked a treasure trove of rare archival material—including photographs, stories, and anecdotes—that offered a deeply human, behind-the-scenes view of the era. GA&C gained access to personal collections that significantly enhanced the depth and authenticity of the tribute.
The project’s formal launch at the 53rd International Film Festival of India 2023 marked a proud milestone, and we felt honored to have contributed to bringing it to life.
Credits
- Sanjay R Wadhwa, Research, Writing & Consultation
