'Mother India,' 'DDLJ' to be screened at the Academy Museum
What's the story
In a historic first for Indian cinema, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles will host Emotion in Colour: A Kaleidoscope of Indian Cinema.
Curated by renowned filmmaker and preservationist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, the unique series will showcase 12 iconic Indian films from March 7 to April 19, 2025.
The program will highlight the evolution and impact of color in Indian cinema on visual storytelling and emotional resonance.
Here's the list of movies set to be screened here.
Film lineup
'Emotion in Colour' to showcase iconic Indian films
The film series will begin with Mehboob Khan's Mother India (1957) on March 7.
Other prominent screenings include Shyam Benegal's Manthan (1976), Manmohan Desai's Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Aribam Syam Sharma's Ishanou (1990), and Aravindan Govindan's Kummatty (1979).
The lineup will also include Ketan Mehta's Mirch Masala, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas, Aditya Chopra's Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa Akbar, Satyajit Ray's Kanchenjungha, Kumar Shahani's Maya Darpan, and Mani Ratnam's Iruvar.
Curator's insight
Dungarpur's statement on Indian cinema's diversity
Expressing his excitement about the project, Dungarpur said, "In India, color is inextricably woven into the fabric of our culture and artistry, and this is profoundly evident in our cinema."
He noted that apart from Hindi cinema, India has five major film industries—Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali—that together produce over 2,000 films every year.
"These 12 films are more than just a celebration of cinematic artistry; they are a vivid mosaic of language, culture, and color," he added.