In a first, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles will showcase a selection of 12 Indian classic films as part of its special feature called “Emotion in Colour: A Kaleidoscope of Indian Cinema”. The screening will have a selection of 12 Indian films, including Jodhaa Akbar, Devdas, Mother India, Manthan, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Amar Akbar Anthony, and others. 

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The other films on the list include Ishanou, Kummatty, Mirch Masala, Kanchenjungha, Maya Darpan, and Iruvar, each offering a unique lens into Indian cinema’s extraordinary relationship with color, culture, and storytelling.

When to watch these films at the Academy Museum

These films will be available to watch from March 7 to April 19, 2025.
 
This groundbreaking series has been curated by acclaimed filmmaker and preservationist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, the founding director of the Film Heritage Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preserving India’s cinematic legacy. The programme explores the evolution of colour in Indian cinema and its transformative role in shaping visual storytelling and emotional resonance.
 
The series aims to emphasise the vast richness and diversity of Indian cinema, spanning decades, regions, languages, and genres. Featured films encapsulate the grandeur of period dramas, the defiant voices of feminist narratives during colonial rule, and the hopes of a newly independent nation. They delve into intricate political dramas, the escapist joy of romance, and reflective works of parallel and experimental cinema.

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On the massive acknowledgement on such a global stage, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur said, "In India, colour is inextricably woven into the fabric of our culture and artistry, and this is profoundly evident in our cinema. When the Academy Museum invited me to curate a program of Indian films, I saw a rare opportunity to present the unparalleled diversity and vibrancy of Indian cinema in color to a largely unfamiliar audience. Beyond Hindi cinema, India boasts five major film industries—Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali—that collectively produce over 2,000 films annually, alongside a multitude of productions in other languages and dialects from every corner of the country.”

He added, “These twelve films are more than just a celebration of cinematic artistry; they are a vivid mosaic of language, culture, and colour, offering audiences in Los Angeles a glimpse into the boundless kaleidoscope of Indian cinema."

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Details of the film screenings at the Academy Museum:
 
Saturday, March 7 – Mother India (Hindi / 1957) – directed by Mehboob Khan
Monday, March 10 – Manthan (Hindi / 1976) – directed by Shyam Benegal
Monday, March 10 – Amar Akbar Anthony (Hindi / 1977) – directed by Manmohan Desai
Tuesday, March 11 – Ishanou (Manipuri./ 1990) – directed by Aribam Syam Sharma
Friday, March 14 – Kummatty (Malayalam / 1979) – directed by Aravindan Govindan
Tuesday, March 18 – Mirch Masala (Hindi / 1987) – directed by Ketan Mehta
Saturday, March 22 – Devdas (Hindi / 2002) – directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Sunday, March 20 – Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (Hindi / 1995) – directed by Aditya Chopra
Monday, March 31 – Jodhaa Akbar (Hindi / 2008) – directed by Ashutosh Gowariker
Saturday, April 5 – Kanchenjungha (Bengali /1962) – directed by Satyajit Ray
Tuesday, April 8 – Maya Darpan (Hindi / 1972) – directed by Kumar Shahani
Sunday, April 19 – Iruvar (Tamil / 1997) – directed by Mani Ratnam