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Temples of India

Technicolor temple tour shot by the great Jack Cardiff

Travelogue 1938 10 mins

Overview

Though the version of Hinduism on offer here is like something out of the adventures of Indiana Jones, performed in the style of The King and I, the film does boast beautiful colour scenes of the temples at Mysore (Mysuru), Benares (Varanasi) and Belur. We also get to see a dancer performing Shiva's 'Dance of Destruction'. The film ends rather oddly with a moonlight trip to the Taj Mahal at Agra, the filmmaker appearing to forget that it was built by a Muslim emperor. Despite its limitations in objectivity and logic, Jack Cardiff's Technicolor cinematography lifts the film to a rather higher plane.

Director

Hans M. Nieter

Featuring

Menaka Indian Ballet

Genres

Travelogue

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English

Subjects

British Raj Holy people Mysore Hinduism Temples Varanasi Kali Idols Relief carving Bulls Taj Mahal

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