In this new episode of our podcast, our host Aisha AlAhmadi, Assistant Curator at Louvre Abu Dhabi, visits the exhibition Bollywood Superstars: A Short Story of Indian Cinema with the exhibition’s curators Julien Rousseau, Head of the Asian Collection at the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, Hélène Kessous, Anthropologist, and specialist of South Asian cinema, 

Featuring extracts from some 40 films and more than 80 artworks, Bollywood Superstars investigates the diverse origins of Indian cinema. From 19th century traditional shadow theatre and early silent movies to the 21st century gods of the screen, the exhibition presents the richness of the India’s image-making traditions alongside the influence of popular arts such as storytelling, dance, and theatre, and its close relationship with mythology and religion.

The exhibition Bollywood Superstars: A Short Story of Indian Cinema is on show at Louvre Abu Dhabi from the 24th of January until the 4th of June 2023. 

On Show is a podcast produced by Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Our warm thanks go to our guests Julien Rousseau and Hélène Kessous for their participation and the team of France Museum for their support. 

This podcast episode is also available in Arabic and French on the Louvre Abu Dhabi mobile app and our website: louvreabudhabi.ae

Executive production: Amine Kharchach; Marine Botton.
Episode Host: Aisha AlAhmadi.
Preparation and scripting: Marine Botton, Aisha AlAhmadi.
Recording: Amine Kharchach and Richard Haggan.
Post-production, music and mix: Making Waves.
Show Cover: Maysa Sultan.

Artwork credits: Emperor Aurangzeb in Public Audience, Mughal Empire, India, Udaipur, 1710-1720, gouache on paper, gold highlights, Louvre Abu Dhabi (LAD 2012.092). © Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi / APF