Call Number:

Print Collection 56

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

0.6 linear feet (2 boxes)

Preferred Citation:

Indian cinema pressbooks, 1929-2003, Print Collection 56, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1929-2003 (inclusive)

Form:

Pressbooks (theatre manuals) and Printed ephemera

Abstract:

Pressbooks are promotional material created by film producers to market films. These books usually contain a small synopsis of the plot, often in two or three languages, commonly English, Hindi, Urdu and sometimes a regional language like Gujarati, depending on the perceived audience for the movie. Since almost all of these movies were musicals, the lyrics to film-songs are a key feature of these booklets.This collection consists of multi-lingual cinema pressbooks that accompanied the release of films produced in India from 1929 to 2003. They are arranged in alphabetical order.

Pressbooks are promotional material created by film producers to market films. When most film companies did their own promotion, pressbooks were given to theatre owners by distributing agencies. Indian pressbooks are completely different than those produced in Hollywood. The books usually contain a small synopsis of the plot, often in two or three languages, commonly English, Hindi, Urdu and sometimes a regional language like Gujarati, depending on the perceived audience for the movie. Since almost every movie was a musical, the lyrics to film-songs are a key feature of these booklets.

This collection consists of multi-lingual cinema pressbooks that accompanied the release of films produced in India from 1929 to 2003. They are arranged in alphabetical order.