Louvre Abu Dhabi's first exhibition of the year, Bollywood Superstars: A Short Story of Indian Cinema, opened on 24 January and runs until 4 June 2023. Organised in partnership with Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac and France Muséums, the exhibition showcases the depth and richness of the Indian subcontinent's art and civilisation through its long tradition of image-making and the diversity of the Indian filmmaking industry.
Bollywood Superstars - ©Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
Bollywood Superstars is co-curated by Julien Rousseau, Curator and Head of the Asian Collections at Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, and Hélène Kessous, PhD in Social Anthropology and Ethnology, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, with the support of Dr Souraya Noujaim, Director of Scientific, Curatorial and Collections Management at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
As the world's leading film producer, India currently produces more than 1,500 films a year in about 20 languages, which are then exported throughout Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Indian pioneers utilised nascent image technologies such as lithograph and photography, kickstarting the journey from the birth of the first films to grand musical features. Visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the international success of Bollywood and an appreciation of the diversity of Indian cinematography. The comprehensive displays span the history of Indian cinema from storytelling, dance, and pre-cinema to the influence of religion and mythology and the rise of Bollywood superstars.
Bollywood Superstars - ©Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
Through more than 80 artworks, including photographs, textiles, graphic arts, costumes and over 30 film extracts, the exhibition explores the rich history of Indian cinema from its beginnings in the late 19th century to the present. The artworks come from the collections of Louvre Abu Dhabi, Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, Musée de l'Armée, Musée national des arts asiatiques – Guimet, al-Sabah Collection, Raja Ravi Varma Heritage Foundation and Priya Paul Collection.
Inspired by Bollywood Superstars exhibition, a rich cultural programme will be available to the public, including an in-depth talk led by the exhibition's curators on 24 January 2023, along with the screening of six iconic Bollywood films throughout March. The famous Secret Soirée event will return with a new larger-scale edition, Secret Soirée: Mumbai Nights 2, allowing guests to immerse themselves in Bollywood.
Bollywood Superstars - ©Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
A range of educational activities will be available for visitors of all ages. These include an Express Tour of the exhibition; Make and Play activities where families can explore different kinds of storytelling techniques inspired by Bollywood film posters; and a Young Visitor's Guide, offering young ones the opportunity to learn about Indian cinema.
Bollywood Superstars is supported by PureHealth, as Louvre Abu Dhabi's exhibition season partner. Following its display at Louvre Abu Dhabi, the exhibition will be reinterpreted by Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris, offering new audiences the opportunity to explore this immersive experience. More than 150 objects and over 40 film extracts will be on view at Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac from 26 September 2023 to 7 January 2024.
A recorded podcast by the curators of the Bollywood Superstars exhibition will be available for the public on Louvre Abu Dhabi's website and mobile application. The exhibition catalogue is available in Arabic, English and French at Louvre Abu Dhabi's boutique.
For more information about the exhibition and to book tickets, please visit www.louvreabudhabi.ae.
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