National Museum of Indian Cinema

The National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) is the first museum dedicated to Indian cinema. It is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. National Museum of Indian Cinema is the only cinema museum in India that takes visitors on an absorbing journey of more than a century of Indian Cinema.

The visitors can explore the journey of Indian Cinema at NMIC in a storytelling mode with the help of vintage artefacts, exciting visuals, melodius music, and creative graphics.

National Museum of Indian Cinema, one of its kind, was inaugurated in the year 2019 by our honorable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. Since then, NMIC has been providing a wholesome experience to its visitors, bringing everything under one roof - from stories of the Superstars of Bollywood, to the Glittering glamour of Bombay, from vintage lights and cameras, upto the modern 3D cinema, from timeless melodies, to modern music, and from Blockbuster films upto path-breaking classics.

• National Museum of Indian Cinema is located at Pedder Road, Mumbai.
• The Gulshan Mahal covers the arrival of Cinema in India, India's first feature film, the transition from Silent to Talkie cinema, and how Indian Cinema evolved in the first half of the 20th Century.
• The Glass Galleries talk about the cinema across India, technological innovations in Indian Cinema, and how Indian cinema has evolved according to the changing times.
• At NMIC, there's an entire gallery dedicated to the life and contribution of Satyajit Ray, the Honorary Academy Award-winning legendary Indian director.
• The cinema lovers can not only get enriching information about Indian cinema through the state of the art artefacts at NMIC, but also have an hands-on experience with modern technology used in Indian Cinema, through the interactive galleries.
• The galleries of NMIC have many vintage cameras, lights, and filmmaking equipments on display.
• At NMIC, visitors can take walk through a timeline of a hundred years of Indian Cinema – knowing about some of the landmark films that released over a period of hundred years.

Inside Mumbai’s iconic National Museum of Indian Cinema: What to expect

1. A tribute to Indian Cinema: The museum celebrates Indian cinema's vast linguistic and cultural diversity. While Bollywood has long been synonymous with Indian cinema, the museum highlights the contributions of various regional film industries, offering a broader perspective on India’s rich cinematic heritage.
2. Two buildings: The museum is spread across two buildings in Cumballa Hill, Peddar Road, Mumbai. Visitors start their journey at the heritage building, Gulshan Mahal, a renovated 19th-century bungalow that provides a charming glimpse into over 100 years of Indian cinema.
3. Gulshan Mahal’s Interactive Exhibits: Gulshan Mahal features interactive exhibits that immerse visitors in the history of Indian cinema. Spanning two floors, the exhibits offer a tranquil environment, perfect for spending a full day exploring the evolution of films and the rich tapestry of Indian storytelling.
4. The new museum building: Adjacent to Gulshan Mahal is the New Museum Building, a four-floor structure that provides a deeper dive into various aspects of Indian cinema. Each floor is packed with exhibits that could easily take a whole day to explore, making multiple visits worthwhile.
5. A tribute to Satyajit Ray: The ground floor and lower ground floor of the new building are dedicated to the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. They feature exhibits about his life, career, and influence on cinema, as well as screening halls where classic and lesser-known Indian films are shown.
6. Gandhi and Cinema: The first floor of the New Museum Building focuses on the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and the freedom struggle on Indian cinema. Through interactive displays, visitors learn about Gandhi’s portrayal in films and the impact of historical events on Indian filmmaking.
7. Children’s Film Studio: The second floor features the Children’s Film Studio, designed to engage young minds in filmmaking. The third floor focuses on the role of technology and creativity in Indian cinema, showcasing the evolution of cinematic techniques and their impact on storytelling.
8. Affordable film screenings: Every Saturday at 4 PM, the museum screens classic Indian films without additional charges. An INR 75 ticket allows you to explore the museum and enjoy a film screening. Even better, if you attend a Saturday screening, your ticket grants free museum access the next day, making return visits affordable and enjoyable.

History and Architecture

The museum complex consists of two buildings:

• Gulshan Mahal - A restored 19th century Victorian-Gothic heritage bungalow
• Modern Glass Galleries - A contemporary building with state-of-the-art exhibition spaces

Exhibition Galleries

Gulshan Mahal

The heritage building chronicles early Indian cinema, featuring:

• Arrival of cinema in India
• India's first feature film
• Transition from silent to talkie films
• Evolution of Indian cinema through the first half of 20th century

Glass Building Galleries

The modern structure showcases:

• Regional cinema across India
• Technological innovations in filmmaking
• Evolution of contemporary Indian cinema
• Special gallery dedicated to Satyajit Ray, featuring his Academy Award and contributions to cinema

Collection

The museum houses an extensive collection including:

• Vintage cameras, lights and filmmaking equipment
• Interactive technology demonstrations
• Timeline displaying landmark films across 100 years
• Memorabilia from iconic Bollywood films
• Historic artifacts from Mumbai's film industry

Visitor Experience

NMIC offers an immersive journey through Indian cinema using:

• Storytelling presentations
• Interactive galleries
• Multimedia displays
• Musical exhibits
• Hands-on technology demonstrations

Additional References

1. https://shop.museumsofindia.org/node/635