Cinema is a diverse art form. Not only is it a compelling narrative tool but also a historical record of a particular society — a cultural artefact. And nowhere in the world does cinema yield more diversity than in India, especially linguistically. For a long time, Bollywood has taken up the most space in Indian cinema — many even synonymise the two — but it is now becoming clear that Bollywood is far from the extent of Indian cinema. As one can imagine then, maintaining a record of such a vast tradition of art would not be easy; however, there is an Indian cinema museum in Mumbai that manages to do it and it does so in an accessible manner.
Why This Indian Cinema Museum In Mumbai Is A Must-Visit
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Spread across two buildings, the National Museum of Indian Cinema nestled in Cumballa Hills, Peddar Road, is a sight to behold inside out. If you’re deeply passionate about cinema, the museum is not something you wanna rush through. In order to get the best experience, you start with the heritage building, Gulshan Mahal.
This erstwhile bungalow was built in the mid-1800s by a wealthy businessman from the Khoja Muslim community. The building itself has a fascinating history worth making a movie about. Before the inauguration of the museum, the building underwent renovation. Now, it houses over 100 years of cinema across two sprawling floors.
Replete with interactive exhibits, dedicated visitors and true-blue film aficionados can easily spend an entire day in just that two-storeyed building alone. The ambience is also very tranquil and cottagecore-esque so spending long hours here will not overstimulate you.
The New Museum Building
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Then, you move to the New Museum Building which is a four-floored behemoth. If each floor of the previous building took you half a day, each floor in this building is definitely capable of taking up an entire day’s worth of time. This may sound overwhelming but multiple visits to this museum are strongly recommended, not least because of the amazing attention to detail.
The ground floor and the lower ground floor of the building (yes there is a lower ground floor) are dedicated to the great Indian cinema maestro, Satyajit Ray. The ground floor also houses a few screening halls where old gems and lesser-known Indian films are screened. More about that in the next part.
The first floor of the new building is about Gandhi and Cinema. It gives you an idea of the impact that both Gandhi and the Indian freedom struggle had on Indian cinema. It also shows how the historical figure has been portrayed in media and has fun interactive exhibits.
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The second floor is the Children’s Film Studio and the third is about the role of technology and creativity in Indian cinema. The fourth floor exhibits cinema across India. When you start touring the new building, this is where you’re supposed to start — on the top floor. Then you descend and explore each floor until you come to the ground floor. From here, the idea is that you go and watch a movie to end the day perfectly.
Interactive Exhibits, Movie Screenings And Much More
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Every Saturday at 4 PM, an old movie is screened. And the best part? You don’t have to pay extra to watch it! This means that you can tour the museum and end the day with a movie all in just ₹75! And that’s not all. If you only go for the movie on Saturday, you can use your ticket to come back on Sunday to tour the museum. You don’t have to pay extra! The cheap price is also great because coming back becomes affordable.
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Every time I visit the place, I end up seeing something I haven’t seen before. And even though I’m not a cinema connoisseur, it is my absolute favourite place in Mumbai. It is peaceful and perfect for introverts who love spending time with themselves. It is also a great date spot if you and your significant other love movies.
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Where: Gulshan Mahal, 24, Pedder Rd, Cumballa Hill.
When: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM
Cost: For Indians Above 14 Years Of Age, ₹75
For Indians Between 3 and 13 years, ₹40
For Foreigners between 3 and 13 years, ₹250
For Foreigners Above 14 years, ₹500
Click here for more information about the museum.
Cover Image Credits: @nmicmumbai/Instagram
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First Published: October 17, 2024 12:30 PM