Delhi: ‘Celluloid Sojourn’ comes to a close on International Museum Day
The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) concluded its widely acclaimed exhibition ‘Celluloid Sojourn: The Women of Indian Cinema’ on a high note on Sunday, coinciding with International Museum Day. The grand closing ceremony paid a stirring tribute to the women who have shaped the Indian film industry — not only as screen icons but as creative forces behind the scenes.
The exhibition, housed on the first floor of the NGMA, presented an evocative blend of 46 artworks and photographs that celebrated the cinematic journey of Indian women. From monumental hand-painted portraits to intimate black-and-white photographs, the showcase illuminated the untold stories and artistic brilliance of female contributors to Indian cinema.
A special highlight of the closing event was ‘Dastan-e-Meena Kumari aur Madhubala’, a captivating musical storytelling session by celebrated performer Fouzia Dastango. With her signature flair, she revived the timeless allure of two legendary actresses whose performances and personal narratives have left indelible marks on Indian film history.
Greeting visitors at the entrance of the first floor was a vibrant yellow signboard titled Celluloid Sojourn, flanked by vintage movie posters — including ‘Village Rockstars’ (2017) and ‘Bulbul Can Sing’ (2018) by Assamese filmmaker Rima Das, and ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ (1960) by Bengali auteur Ritwik Ghatak. These selections echoed the exhibition’s broader message — that Indian cinema’s richness lies in its diversity, resilience and the powerful roles played by women over the decades.
At the heart of the gallery were six majestic portraits of legendary actresses — Madhubala, Vyjayanthimala, Deepti Naval, Nargis, Meena Kumari and Nutan — painted in oil and powder by the acclaimed billboard artist Balkrishna Laxman Vaidya. Vaidya, a pioneering figure in India’s golden age of cinema posters, began painting at the age of 12 and created the iconic visual culture that once drew crowds to Bombay’s bustling cinema halls. His towering canvases radiated a nostalgic warmth that connected the present generation to the charm of hand-painted cinematic art.
Yet, the exhibition extended far beyond visual spectacle. It also shed light on the behind-the-scenes creative minds who helped shape Indian cinema. Photographers Nemai Ghosh and Dayanita Singh captured rare moments from the film sets of iconic directors and choreographers. Ghosh’s lens followed the genius of Satyajit Ray — documenting him guiding Santhal dancers, applying makeup to Sharmila Tagore, and instructing actors during the shoot of Ashani Sanket. Known as Ray’s photo-biographer, Ghosh chronicled a cinema built on collaboration and deep craftsmanship.
Dayanita Singh’s ‘Masterjee Series’ offered another perspective — that of the choreographer. Her images of Saroj Khan, India’s most revered dance guru, portrayed her in action with stars such as Madhuri Dixit, Rekha and even Ajay Devgn, offering viewers a glimpse of the discipline and precision that underpinned Bollywood’s iconic dance numbers.
“This exhibition is a tribute not just to the actresses who lit up the screen, but to the many women whose contributions remain unseen — the choreographers, makeup artists, and costume designers who shaped Indian cinema from behind the curtain,” said Sanjeev Kishor Goutam, director general, NGMA. “Celluloid Sojourn creates a space to challenge and reimagine narratives of women in film history.”
The exhibition text framed the journey as one of both resistance and collaboration — highlighting how female artists navigated the industry’s gendered boundaries to assert creative control and reimagine storytelling itself.
Adding to the occasion, the Ministry of Culture also launched Parikraman, a digital initiative featuring over 8,000 artworks from NGMA’s archives, inaugurated by secretary Vivek Aggarwal. This digital expansion aligns with this year’s International Museum Day theme: ‘The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities’.
As the curtains came down on Celluloid Sojourn, NGMA offered not just a retrospective, but a celebration of a cinematic legacy still unfolding — one in which women continue to be the revolutionary heart of Indian cinema.
Delhi