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)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

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 The Wandering Company (1984)

User Reviews

ex oriente lux

This movie is about the love affair of an western writer and an Indian film star. I liked it very much and the point I found most interesting is the western craving for eastern spirituality exemplified by the visit and internship of the heroine in an Indian guru. The movie presents the guru in a savage light, as a self-promoting socialite proud of his western connections. Whether it is questionable that all the exponents of eastern spirituality as such cranks the one in the movie is, thus a satirist perspective is adopted. The characters are shallow and self-absorbed and their lives hollow, the movie pointing to the emptiness of stardom.The end is tragic and the world-view exposed is close to that of Ecclesiastes. Despite that I found the couple of the protagonists very engaging since as Oscar Wilde said only shallow people refuse to judge by appearances.