In this episode, Pooja Bhatt sits down with film archivist S. M. M. Ausaja for a conversation that traces the fragile, often forgotten journey of Indian cinema’s memory. From wandering through dusty godowns and discarded collections to building one of the largest private archives of film memorabilia, Ausaja reflects on a life spent rescuing fragments that the film industry - and time - have quietly left behind.

What begins with a story about a lost photograph soon unfolds into a deeper conversation on erasure and recovery. Ausaja speaks of the archivist not as a collector, but as a custodian of emotion - someone who restores not just images, but identities. Posters, lobby cards, glass slides, and song booklets become more than artifacts; they become evidence of a cultural past that risks disappearing with every passing year.

As the conversation moves through the evolution of cinema, they reflect on a time when film imagery carried a sense of distance and devotion - when stars felt mythical, and posters were treated like shrines. In contrast, today’s digital saturation has made cinema more accessible, but perhaps less magical. Between them lies a shared concern: that in gaining immediacy, cinema may have lost some of its soul.

They revisit the legacy of Amitabh Bachchan and the rise of the ‘angry young man,’ connecting his persona to the social unrest of his time. It becomes a lens to examine how cinema once mirrored reality - and how, in many ways, it has drifted from it.

As the discussion deepens, Ausaja reflects on the growing dominance of commercial pressures, the shifting nature of audiences, and the quiet neglect of cinematic history. He speaks of preservation not as nostalgia, but as resistance - and of the urgent need for filmmakers and the industry to look back, in order to move forward.

In this episode, Pooja Bhatt sits down with film archivist S. M. M. Ausaja for a conversation that traces the fragile, often forgotten journey of Indian cinema&rsquo;s memory. From wandering through dusty godowns and discarded collections to building one of the largest private archives of film memorabilia, Ausaja reflects on a life spent rescuing fragments that the film industry - and time - have quietly left behind. What begins with a story about a lost photograph soon unfolds into a deeper conversation on erasure and recovery. Ausaja speaks of the archivist not as a collector, but as a custodian of emotion - someone who restores not just images, but identities. Posters, lobby cards, glass slides, and song booklets become more than artifacts; they become evidence of a cultural past that risks disappearing with every passing year. As the conversation moves through the evolution of cinema, they reflect on a time when film imagery carried a sense of distance and devotion - when stars felt mythical, and posters were treated like shrines. In contrast, today&rsquo;s digital saturation has made cinema more accessible, but perhaps less magical. Between them lies a shared concern: that in gaining immediacy, cinema may have lost some of its soul. They revisit the legacy of Amitabh Bachchan and the rise of the &lsquo;angry young man,&rsquo; connecting his persona to the social unrest of his time. It becomes a lens to examine how cinema once mirrored reality - and how, in many ways, it has drifted from it. As the discussion deepens, Ausaja reflects on the growing dominance of commercial pressures, the shifting nature of audiences, and the quiet neglect of cinematic history. He speaks of preservation not as nostalgia, but as resistance - and of the urgent need for filmmakers and the industry to look back, in order to move forward.

Join iconic actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt as she takes you behind the scenes of the Indian film industry. A new weekly podcast, where she sits down with some of the most remarkable people from Bollywood and beyond, sharing inspiring stories and rare insights, through conversations with directors, actors, musicians, producers, stylists, singers and more. 

From the highs and lows of her journey to the remarkable tales of those shaping Indian cinema, this show offers an authentic glimpse into the heart of the entertainment industry culture and her life - reflections, both reel and real. 

Nothing is off-limits. Love. Loss. Addiction. Healing. Fame. Failure. Everything will be on the table. She and her guests will talk about it all, with honesty and vulnerability, stories you’ve never heard before

Join iconic actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt as she takes you behind the scenes of the Indian film industry. A new weekly podcast, where she sits down with some of the most remarkable people from Bollywood and beyond, sharing inspiring stories and rare insights, through conversations with directors, actors, musicians, producers, stylists, singers and more.&nbsp;
From the highs and lows of her journey to the remarkable tales of those shaping Indian cinema, this show offers an authentic glimpse into the heart of the entertainment industry culture and her life - reflections, both reel and real.&nbsp;
Nothing is off-limits. Love. Loss. Addiction. Healing. Fame. Failure. Everything will be on the table. She and her guests will talk about it all, with honesty and vulnerability, stories you&rsquo;ve never heard before

The Pooja Bhatt Show

Join iconic actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt as she takes you behind the scenes of the Indian film industry. A new weekly podcast, where she sits down with some of the most remarkable people from Bollywood and beyond, sharing inspiring stories and rare insights, through conversations with directors, actors, musicians, producers, stylists, singers and more. 
From the highs and lows of her journey to the remarkable tales of those shaping Indian cinema, this show offers an authentic glimpse into the heart of the entertainment industry culture and her life - reflections, both reel and real. 
Nothing is off-limits. Love. Loss. Addiction. Healing. Fame. Failure. Everything will be on the table. She and her guests will talk about it all, with honesty and vulnerability, stories you’ve never heard before.

Join iconic actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt as she takes you behind the scenes of the Indian film industry. A new weekly podcast, where she sits down with some of the most remarkable people from Bollywood and beyond, sharing inspiring stories and rare insights, through conversations with directors, actors, musicians, producers, stylists, singers and more.&nbsp; From the highs and lows of her journey to the remarkable tales of those shaping Indian cinema, this show offers an authentic glimpse into the heart of the entertainment industry culture and her life - reflections, both reel and real.&nbsp; Nothing is off-limits. Love. Loss. Addiction. Healing. Fame. Failure. Everything will be on the table. She and her guests will talk about it all, with honesty and vulnerability, stories you&rsquo;ve never heard before.

A Conversation With S.M.M. Ausaja

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2a1f8c4b-141c-43f9-8540-b439011adc08/transcript