Bombay Talkie (1970)

Lucia Lane, an English writer by way of the US, arrives in Bombay to watch the filming of one of her novels. She's nearing middle age, she's had several husbands, she's lonely and ... See full summary »

Director:

James Ivory

Writers:

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (screenplay), James Ivory (screenplay)

Stars:

Shashi Kapoor, Jennifer Kendal, Zia Mohyeddin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shashi Kapoor	...	Vikram
Jennifer Kendal	...	Lucia Lane
Zia Mohyeddin	...	Hari
Aparna Sen	...	Mala
Utpal Dutt	...	Bose
Nadira	...	Anjana Devi
Pinchoo Kapoor	...	Swamiji
Helen	...	Heroine in Gold
Usha Iyer	...	Cabaret Singer
Ruby Mayer	...	Gopal Ma (as Sulochana)
Prayag Raj	...	Director (as Prayag Raaj)
Jalal Agha	...	Young Man
Anwar Ali	...	Young Man
Mohan Nadkarni	...	Young Man
Sukhdev	...	Man at Bar

Storyline

Lucia Lane, an English writer by way of the US, arrives in Bombay to watch the filming of one of her novels. She's nearing middle age, she's had several husbands, she's lonely and self-absorbed. Hari, a screenwriter, offers to show her around. She's interested only in the film's leading man, Vikram, younger than she, married, and building a career as a matinee idol. Lucia takes every opportunity to be near "V," making scenes in front of his wife, demanding his attentions. Hari is long-suffering, carrying Lucia's messages to V, helping her out when the affair gets out of hand. Meanwhile, V's career suffers, with unpleasant repercussions. Who will bring things to a halt?

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Plot Keywords:

filming | bombay | affair | indian pakistani | culture clash | 

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 October 1979 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Drama sti Bombay

Filming Locations:

K. Asif Studios, Andheri, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Company Credits

Production Co:

Merchant Ivory Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

The film opens with the movie title shown on a carpet that is being carried across the street. The credits are then shown on billboards in different parts of town.

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Connections

Featured in Helen, Queen of the Nautch Girls (1973)

User Reviews

A little old - could have been worse.

An early film by my favorite trio Ivory, Merchant and Jhabvala, failed to light my senses in this nonsensical musical farce. The additional content on the DVD is much better with a feature on the very talented Helen and the customary chat with the trio on making of this movie. This film seems to insult everyone: a very uncaring and self indulgent white authoress, a very lustful Indian actor with no scruples, a charlatan guru, and a mediocre poet with an obsession to murder. Mix this lot in a movie and you get the customary tale of confusion and bad acting. Some moments of the film are memorable including the beginning scene on the giant typewriter, the incredible shots of the staircase at the hotel, and the general view into Bombay film making of the 70s. The ending is, well, rather abrupt, and I was glad it was. Rent it just for the extras on the DVD.