Message From the Director: Shalom Bollywood @ LPL

In a world that often feels divided it is important to find the things that bring us together.  That’s why at LPL one of our favorite things to learn about is the intersection of cultures. On Sunday, May 19 at 2:00 PM we will be holding a screening of the film Shalom Bollywood: The Untold Story of Indian Cinema.  This feature length documentary made its world premiere at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in 2017 and reveals the story of the 2,000 year old Indian Jewish community and its formative place in shaping the world’s largest film industry.

When Indian cinema began 100 years ago it was taboo for Hindu and Muslim women to perform on screen, so Indian Jewish women took on female lead roles.  However, because of their stage names audiences were often unaware of their Jewish heritage. Shalom Bollywood tells its tale through the lives of film icons: from the 1920s silent era we meet Sulochana (aka Ruby Myers); in the 1930s there was Miss Rose (aka Rose Ezra), and in the 1940s Pramila (aka Esther Abraham), who became the country’s first Miss India.  Then, in the 1950s and 1960s golden era of Indian cinema, we meet Nadira (aka Farhat Ezekiel).

Join us on May 19 for this exciting exploration into an often forgotten piece of shared history.