[1944 HOME MOVIE DELHI, INDIA]

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1944

Description:

This silent, color home-style film from 1944 was likely shot by an American soldier stationed there during WWII. The film offers a vivid snapshot of life in Delhi, India, showcasing the juxtaposition of traditional agrarian practices and urban modernization. It begins with scenes of rural farmland, featuring an ox-drawn water wheel, before transitioning to a mid-century travel magazine that highlights India's rich culture and heritage. The film captures the bustling city life, where oxen share the roads with automobiles, and showcases diverse aspects of Delhi, including the iconic Jama Masjid, a Muslim funeral procession, and the Delhi Race Club, where crowds gather to watch horse racing. The film portrays Delhi during a particularly transformative period in the city and India’s history, as the urban landscape of Delhi was evolving with the construction of new government buildings and infrastructure. Still a British colony at the time, India played an important role in Britain’s military strategy during World War II. Today, Delhi acts as India’s capital territory and is a massive city in the country’s north.

Film opens, farmland somewhere in rural India - man guides Ox part of ox-drawn water wheel (0:08-1:45). Mid-Century cover design travel magazine that says “India 1944” (1:48). Hand flips through magazine and shows contents, articles on Indian culture, Indian army, Hindu Architecture, images of Taj Mahal and other sites (1:51). Modernist apartment blocks structures (2:22). Agrarian workers riding on ox-pulled carts share road with automobiles in center of city; Some carts carry load of hay (2:48). Man wearing grey suit and yellow turban bikes along road, transports hand-crafted woven baskets (3:39). Women in saris walk along fortified walls alongside mosque/ temple (4:29). Ox-pulled carts transport piles of hay towards city (4:40). Wooden punt boat transports people across banks of river (5:10). Men and women carry bundles of sticks on their heads to carts waiting nearby (6:18). Ox-pulled carts transporting bundles of bricks riding along desolate road (6:49). Shot of another rural road with Bikaneri camels pulling carts of raw materials (7:34). Jama Masjid “Great Mosque” in Delhi, close-up shots details of facade and birds circling minarets (8:02). Tram car pulls into stop in front of Jama Masjid (trams in Delhi 1908-1963, operation ends due to congestion in city) (9:15). Another wide-angle shot of exterior of Jama Masjid and adjoining square (9:26). Muslim funeral procession, men carry body wrapped in white shrouded cloth through Delhi streets (9:58). Another entry gate of Jama Masjid (10:20). Close-up of what appear to be Hindu relics on the exterior of dome structure (11:18). Building appearing similar to Rashtrapati Bhavan (Formerly Viceroy's House) in Delhi by Sir Edwin Lutyens (architect behind construction of New Delhi), however, American flag waves from dome, perhaps a United States consulate or embassy (11:47). More shots of mass housing project, white modernist apartment blocks structures (12:16). Central shopping area, signs for businesses hang above largely shuttered doorways (13:55). Delhi Race Club (est. 1940): Various scenes from race club as jockeys warm up on horses, crowds begin gathering to observe race (14:50). Men gamble on race of the day, man stands at booth and takes bets (16:19). Crowd of men forms outside of payout window (16:54). Race begins, jockeys ride horses around Delhi Race Club track (17:27). Film ends (18:28).

Masjid-i-Jehan-Numa commonly known as the Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India.

Complete Record: This silent, color home-style film from 1944 was likely shot by an American soldier stationed there during WWII. The film offers a vivid snapshot of life in Delhi, India, showcasing the juxtaposition of traditional agrarian practices and urban modernization. It begins with scenes of rural farmland, featuring an ox-drawn water wheel, before transitioning to a mid-century travel magazine that highlights India's rich culture and heritage. The film captures the bustling city life, where oxen share the roads with automobiles, and showcases diverse aspects of Delhi, including the iconic Jama Masjid, a Muslim funeral procession, and the Delhi Race Club, where crowds gather to watch horse racing. The film portrays Delhi during a particularly transformative period in the city and India’s history, as the urban landscape of Delhi was evolving with the construction of new government buildings and infrastructure. Still a British colony at the time, India played an important role in Britain’s military strategy during World War II. Today, Delhi acts as India’s capital territory and is a massive city in the country’s north. Film opens, farmland somewhere in rural India - man guides Ox part of ox-drawn water wheel (0:08-1:45). Mid-Century cover design travel magazine that says “India 1944” (1:48). Hand flips through magazine and shows contents, articles on Indian culture, Indian army, Hindu Architecture, images of Taj Mahal and other sites (1:51). Modernist apartment blocks structures (2:22). Agrarian workers riding on ox-pulled carts share road with automobiles in center of city; Some carts carry load of hay (2:48). Man wearing grey suit and yellow turban bikes along road, transports hand-crafted woven baskets (3:39). Women in saris walk along fortified walls alongside mosque/ temple (4:29). Ox-pulled carts transport piles of hay towards city (4:40). Wooden punt boat transports people across banks of river (5:10). Men and women carry bundles of sticks on their heads to carts waiting nearby (6:18). Ox-pulled carts transporting bundles of bricks riding along desolate road (6:49). Shot of another rural road with Bikaneri camels pulling carts of raw materials (7:34). Jama Masjid “Great Mosque” in Delhi, close-up shots details of facade and birds circling minarets (8:02). Tram car pulls into stop in front of Jama Masjid (trams in Delhi 1908-1963, operation ends due to congestion in city) (9:15). Another wide-angle shot of exterior of Jama Masjid and adjoining square (9:26). Muslim funeral procession, men carry body wrapped in white shrouded cloth through Delhi streets (9:58). Another entry gate of Jama Masjid (10:20). Close-up of what appear to be Hindu relics on the exterior of dome structure (11:18). Building appearing similar to Rashtrapati Bhavan (Formerly Viceroy's House) in Delhi by Sir Edwin Lutyens (architect behind construction of New Delhi), however, American flag waves from dome, perhaps a United States consulate or embassy (11:47). More shots of mass housing project, white modernist apartment blocks structures (12:16). Central shopping area, signs for businesses hang above largely shuttered doorways (13:55). Delhi Race Club (est. 1940): Various scenes from race club as jockeys warm up on horses, crowds begin gathering to observe race (14:50). Men gamble on race of the day, man stands at booth and takes bets (16:19). Crowd of men forms outside of payout window (16:54). Race begins, jockeys ride horses around Delhi Race Club track (17:27). Film ends (18:28).