: Includes what is believed to be the oldest surviving film of India, shot on the ghats of Varanasi in 1899.

: The documentary juxtaposes the opulent lifestyles of British colonizers and Indian Maharajas with the daily struggles of farmhands and common citizens. It challenges the "Orientalist gaze" by reframing archival snippets to highlight shifting perspectives in pre-independence India. Archival Highlights :

: Features intimate home movies from expatriate families, professional newsreels, and even early hand-colored sequences.

: Though it is a silent documentary, it is accompanied by a contemporary score by sarod player Soumik Datta that blends Western and Indian musical traditions. Where to Watch

: Captures historical personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi (including rare footage of his 1946 peace mission) and the child star Sabu.

(2018) is a 72-minute documentary directed by Sandhya Suri that offers a kaleidoscopic view of life in India from 1899 to 1947. Sourced entirely from the British Film Institute (BFI) National Archive , the film assembles rare footage to explore the complexities of the British Raj and the journey toward independence. Film Overview