Archive / Films

The Centre holds a sizable archive of films – approximately 50 individual collections totalling in the region of 80 hours of footage. Most of the material we hold is 16mm or 8mm home movies, taken between 1911 and 1956, which give a unique perspective of life in South Asia towards the end of the British Empire and in the first years of independence. The collection covers a broad range of topics – the rescue of civilians and soldiers trapped inside Burma by swollen rivers after the country’s fall to the Japanese in World War II, repairs on the railway line from Quetta to the Khyber Pass after the Quetta earthquake of 1935, relief work and disturbing scenes of the removal of bodies during the Partition period, the social lives of the Raj, children playing and going to school, royal weddings, Indian festivals and rites – the list is very long.

For those wishing to use the films in broadcast and the media: you may not use the film material presented on these pages, except for research purposes, without the explicit permission of the Centre of South Asian Studies. Films may be viewed using this website, but you will need to contact the archivist at the Centre before broadcasting any of this material in any form. We hold copies of all the films on DigiBeta and can supply you with the extracts you require in any format you choose. Contact the archivist for more information.

For those wishing to use the films in teaching: you are free to use this material in the classroom. Any video stream, however, requires a high quality, reliable internet connection. We suggest, therefore, that you download a copy of the films you want to use onto a local computer and use them off your own hard drive. Please contact the archivist to do this.

Research into, preparation for streaming and cataloguing of the films was completed by Dr Annamaria Motrescu-Mayes.


Collections

  • Anonymous Collection (1)

    1 film. Colour/B&W. Delhi, India. c.1940. From 8mm original. Unknown filmmaker.
  • Atkinson Collection (2)

    2 films. Colour/B&W. Hatton, Ceylon (Sri Lanka). c.1940. From 16mm original. Films made by W.B. Atkinson.
  • Augier Collection (5)

    5 films. Colour/B&W. Tonk, Rajasthan, India. UK. Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka). c. 1930s. From 16mm original. Films made by D. Augier.
  • Banks Collection (5)

    5 films. B&W. Lahore, Punjab, India (Pakistan); Bengal, Benares (Varanasi), United Provinces (Uttar Pradesh), Kashmir, India. 1929-1933. From 16mm original. Films made by R .A. Banks.
  • Barclay Collection (7)

    7 films. B&W. Scotland. Jhansi Upper Province, India. 1930s. From 16mm original. Films made by I. C. Barclay.
  • Barlow Collection (2)

    2 films. Colour/B&W. Rajputana (Rajasthan), Indore State (Madhya Pradesh), India, 1941-45. From 8mm original. Films made by H. A. N. Barlow.
  • Baron Collection (4)

    4 films. Colour/B&W. Shillong, Assam, India. c. late 1930s - early 1940s. From 16mm original. Films made by C.G Baron(?).
  • Barton Collection (7)

    7 films. Colour/B&W. Burma (Myanmar). Rajputana (Rajasthan), India. North West Frontier Province, India (Pakistan). United Provinces (Uttar Pradesh), Kashmir, India. 1936-1942. From 8mm original. Films made by V. G. J. Barton.
  • Berridge Collection (6)

    6 films. Colour/B&W. Lahore, Punjab, Sind (Sindh), Quetta, Balochistan, India (Pakistan). 1934-1945. From 16mm original. Films made by P.S.A. Berridge.
  • Bertram Collection (1)

    1 film. B&W. Location and date unknown. From 16mm original.
  • Bowlby Collection (3)

    3 films. B&W. Rangoon, Burma (Yangon, Myanmar). 1939 - 1940. From 8mm original. Films made by H.S. Bowlby.
  • Boyd Collection (11)

    11 films. B&W. Murree, Punjab, Jalahabad, Mewar (originally listed as Miawar), India (Pakistan). Kent, England. c.1930s. From 8mm original. Unknown filmmaker.
  • Buchanan Collection (3)

    3 films. B&W. Nilgiri Hills, Ootacamund, Madras (Chennai, Tamil Nadu), India. 1930-31. From 16mm original. Films made by Sir Charles Buchanan.
  • Burtt Collection (8)

    8 films.Colour/B&W. Lahore, Wagha, Punjab, India (Pakistan). Ajmer (Rajasthan), India. 1933-1947. From 16mm original. Films made by Theodore Burtt.
  • Cambridge University Expedition To Nepal (1)

    1 film. Colour. Agra, India. Afghanistan. Nepal. c.1968. From 16mm original. Unknown filmmaker.
  • Christie Collection (1)

    1 film. B&W. Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bengal, India (Bangladesh). 1935. From 16mm original. Film made by an unidentified Aide-de-Camp to Sir John Anderson, Governor of Bengal.
  • Corfield Collection (2)

    2 films. BW. Rewa (Madhya Pradesh), Simla (Shimla), Himachal Pradesh, Indore State (Madhya Pradesh), India. c. 1940-41. From 16mm original. Films made by Sir Conrad Corfield.
  • Corlett Collection (1)

    1 film. Colour. Digboi, Assam, India; Burma (Myanmar). March 1943 - February 1944. From 16mm original. Film made by Major John N. Corlett.
  • Craster Collection (7)

    7 films. B&W. Delhi, Jaipur, Jotwara (Jhotwara), India. 1931-35. From 16mm original. Films made by Col. George Cras'ter.
  • Crosfield Collection (2)

    2 films (composite from smaller reels). B&W. Chittagong, India (Bangladesh); Kent, England; Digboi, Assam, India. 1933-39. From 16mm original. Films made by L.M. Crosfield.
  • Davy Collection (9)

    9 films. B&W. Lahore, Punjab, India (Pakistan). Kashmir. c. 1930-1940s. From 8mm original. Unknown filmmaker.
  • De Gale Collection (6)

    6 films. Colour/B&W. Kohat; Peshawar, India (Pakistan). Delhi, India. Scotland. c. 1933-39. From 16mm original. Films made by Mrs. De Gale.
  • Gidney Collection (2)

    2 films.Colour/B&W. Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. 1941. From 16mm original. Unknown filmmaker.
  • Goodwin Collection (7)

    7 films. Colour/B&W. Possibly North West Frontier Province, India (Pakistan) . c. 1940s. From 8 original. Unknown filmmaker.
  • Gowan Collection (1)

    1 film. B&W. Pachmarhi, India, 1933-35. From 16mm original. Film made by Sir Hyde Gowan
  • Gradidge Collection (1)

    1 film. B&W. Srinagar, Travancore, Agra, Mysore, India. 1937-39. From 16mm original. Film made by L.B.W. Gradidge.
  • Gradwell Collection (1)

    1 film. Colour. Calcutta (Kolkata), India. 1939. From 16mm original. Film made by F. C. Gradwell.
  • Heaney Collection (8)

    8 films. B&W. Burma (Myanmar). India. Tibet. England. c. 1936-7. From 16mm original. Films made by Captain G. F. Heaney and Mrs Heaney.
  • Hopkinson Collection (3)

    3 films. Colour/B&W. Tibet. Bhutan. Sikkim, India. c. 1947-48. From 16mm original. Film made by A. J Hopkinson.
  • Hunter Collection (8)

    8 films. B&W. Meerut, Uttar Pradesh; Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India,1928-1932. From 16mm original. Films made by C. F. Hunter.
  • Hyde Collection (1)

    1 film (composite from 9 short film reels). B&W. Bastar States (Chhattisgarh), India. 1937-1940. From 16mm original. Film made by E. S. Hyde.
  • Jacob Collection (9)

    9 films. Colour/B&W. England. Kerala, India. c.1930s -1940s. From 8mm original. Unknown filmmaker.
  • Johnston Collection (1)

    1 film. B&W. Bulandshakr, (Uttar Pradesh), India. 1930s. From 16mm original. Film made by Ronald H. G. Johnston, District Officer in Bulandshakr.
  • Kendall Collection (4)

    4 films. B&W. Allahabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh; Naini Tal, Uttaranchal, India. 1931-35. From 16mm. Films made by Lady Kendall.
  • Knight Collection (3)

    3 films. B&W. Poona, Sholapur, Mahableshwar, Bombay Presidency (Pune, Maharashtra), India; Bexhill-on-Sea. England. 1930-32. From 8mm original. Films made by Sir Henry Foley Knight.
  • Laurie Collection (1)

    34 films. Colour/B&W. India, Bengal, UK, Europe, US. 1930s-1963. Calcutta street scenes; social and domestic life; UK, European & US travel and holiday.
  • Lord Collection (1)

    1 film. Colour/B&W. India, Kenya, England. 1946-47. From 16mm original. Film made by E. Lord.
  • Mackrell Collection (16)

    16 films. Colour/B&W. Burma (Myanmar); Assam, India. 1936-1957. From 16mm original. Films made by Gyles Mackrell.
  • Maclean Collection (2)

    2 films. Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar); Srinagar, Harwan, Jammu and Kashmir, India. 1940-43. From 16mm original. Films made by Angus MacLean.
  • Mallam Collection (2)

    2 films. B&W. Kabul, Afghanistan. 1932-33. From 16mm original. Films made by G. Leslie Mallam.
  • Mansfield Collection (6)

    6 films. B&W. North West Frontier Province, India (Pakistan); Bihar and Orissa (?), India; UK(?). c.1920. From 16mm original. Films made by P. T. Mansfield.
  • Mcneill Collection (1)

    1 film. B&W. Maldive Islands. 1931.From 16mm original. Film made by a naval photographer of the H.M.S. 'Enterprise'.
  • Meiklejohn Collection (18)

    18 films. Colour/B&W. North West Frontier Province, India (Pakistan); United Provinces (Uttar Pradesh), Darjeeling, Delhi, Assam, India. 1932-1948. From 16mm original. Films made by William Meiklejohn.
  • Milne Collection (3)

    3 films. B&W. Travancore, (Kerala), India. c. 1930s. From 8mm original. Unknown filmmaker.
  • Morgan Collection (11)

    11 films. B&W. Date and location mostly unknown - some UK, some Lahore. Mostly Assam (?). From 16mm original. Unknown filmmaker.
  • Quien Collection (1)

    1 film. Colour. Paintings and sculptures by Mrs. Clara Quien. c. 1950s. From 8mm original. Unknown filmmaker.
  • St Christopher's College Collection (1)

    1 film. B&W. Madras, (Tamil Nadu), India. Date unknown. From 16mm original. Unknown filmmaker.
  • Stavridi Collection (6)

    6 Films. Colour/B/W. Location mostly unknown. Bombay (Mumbai); Darjeeling, India; Lahore, India (Pakistan). c. 1940s. From 8mm original. Films made by Alexander G. Stavridi(?).
  • Stewart Collection (5)

    6 films. B&W. Cherrapunji, Meghalaya; Imphal, Manipur, India. 1932-36. From 16mm original. Films made by Gerald P. Stewart.
  • Stokes Collection (19)

    20 films. B&W. Mysore, Karnataka; Madras (Chennai), Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu; Nilambur, Kerala; Cochin (Kochi), Kerala, India.1930-34. From 16mm original. Films made by Lady Stokes and Sir Hopetoun Stokes.
  • Studd Collection (19)

    19 films. B&W. India. Burma (Myanmar). 1927- 29. From 16mm original. Films made by Sir Eric Studd.
  • Taylor Collection (4)

    4 films. B&W. Assam, India. 1932-36. From 16mm original. Films made by A.W. Taylor.
  • Williams Collection (2)

    2 films. B&W. India/Pakistan. August-October 1947. From 8mm original. Films made by Major C. H. Williams.
  • Wilson/pemberton Collection (21)

    21 films. B&W. Patiala, Punjab; Calcutta (Kolkata), India; Kashmir; Afghanistan; Kandy, Ceylon (Sri Lanka); Burma (Myanmar). 1931-35. From 16mm. Film made by R.M. Wilson and M. Pemberton.