The courtesans of Bombay / Merchant Ivory Productions presents a film made by Ismail Merchant, James Ivory, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala ; produced in association with The Criterion Collection ; a Merchant Ivory Production for Channel 4 ; produced and directed by Ismail Merchant.
Publisher:
Distributed by Home Vision Entertainment,
Copyright Date:
2005
Description:
1 videodisc (74 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 booklet.
Saeed Jaffrey, Kareen Samar. Originally released as a motion picture in 1983. Special features: 2 essays by Robert Emmet Long; documentary short "Street musicians of Bombay" (52 min.) directed by Richard Robbins.
Summary:
Pavan Pool is an enclosed area of Bombay where the city's singing and dancing courtesans ply their trade. Crammed tenements house thousands of men playing up to the camera as they seek out forbidden pleasures - and the courtesans themselves, who appear more as entertainers than sex workers. It shows how young girls are groomed in the arts of singing, dancing, and by inference, seduction. The film is about a tradition with a special place in Indian society: the entertainment of paying customers - always men - by songstresses and dancers who perform in the classical Hindustani styles of the ancient "nautch" girls.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.