From Umrao Jaan to Pakeezah, how an archive frames Bollywood's unseen history
Shruti Sonal
TNN
Jul 5, 2025, 19:35 IST IST
For eighty years, Kamat Foto Flash has been chronicling Hindi cinema's most iconic movies through stills
When Muzaffar Ali 's ' Umrao Jaan ' released in 1981, its poetic storytelling, the enigmatic Rekha , Asha Bhonsle's unforgettable songs, and the stunning set and costume design made it an instant classic. Over 40 years later, Ali, Rekha, and Bhonsle reunited in Mumbai to celebrate the release of the film's beautifully restored 4K version in theatres.
Alongside the remastered film, Ali also launched a limited-edition coffee table book with photography stills that captured behind-the-scenes of the film's making. 'My background in advertising and painting has made me aware of the power that images hold. I thought a book would help in keeping the film's stills zinda (alive) for a long time, along with the different layers of truth that go behind a single scene in the film,' Ali says.
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