![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E3KOC573A5D57G6STIPO3LJ4DA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cddc4ed8e8adc18c29221dbec6b4ecc70d9e03c1b2e88d1eba3208fbb33c0e78&width=400&height=225)
Statuette of Krishna as a child playing the flute from the second half of the 19th century from Jaipur, Rajasthan
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GN24BNOGFZCMJEJECZRQMDPX34.jpg?smart=true&auth=6cf94e5b90909a5442a933d1442ffcc65ae9544b608aa5862fe27bec9a414f23&width=400&height=225)
A cut-out of actor Amitabh Bachchan at Louvre Abu Dhabi's Bollywood Superstars: A Short Story of Indian Cinema. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TSYJUKFRGBAIJOTQZ64ME5QGAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd88e81c62349205fc490666c9020ec6634843538e74e9bb25e2a8f20fa62c0b&width=400&height=225)
Chhau dance mask from Purulia, West Bengal, of the demon king Ravana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QTQ375LCFBHFPJELWBQKGAWARI.jpg?smart=true&auth=190a9579bf2bdd9e8cb5d3dcdbebb86b1a866e7854edf2568c569c6859688a25&width=400&height=225)
Advertising posters and calendars from the early 19th century that provided visual inspiration for the first film directors of Indian cinema
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GYI2QQYCDZDO7PPMPRJN4XJOBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=407160b462e1e09b1e4178600f3a947fcd385eb5337cd6d60b8a3c35d66d456a&width=400&height=225)
Women's dress (jumlo) from the first half of the 20th century made of embordered cotton and silk from Sindh, Pakistan, and metal and plastic
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LMSG7W3UGNHRVODIAGN65HTULQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d50db61f20dc317963f835806567a7d799c9c72a4b49b5aa254828f741fac827&width=400&height=225)
Ceremonial daggers from 19th century India
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VLMDWUZKRNDZFEVGYN7GOH4CA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=de7fd0d0d1170d64c4a34a71fa0a6b1ca5053206475a7a234e4c95407eee16a9&width=400&height=225)
Black-and-white photographs from the movies of Indian director Satyajit Ray
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DAUGUFO6QFFP3JSQPYHPLOCVBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=295ec62f9e2501ad4c616cb4a3a639b65a119fd8e216b6878fceebdfe978c4b8&width=400&height=225)
A recreation of the ornate single-screen cinemas of India designed in the Art Deco style
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CEP3ZEVSKJH5HDQWQAORH2TQLY.jpg?smart=true&auth=653dc53e5c2229e0c319e67fa9d788fc659823af604e85fd1ff7da783b647b50&width=400&height=225)
Portable storyteller's altar with panels detailing scenes from Ramayan
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E3KOC573A5D57G6STIPO3LJ4DA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cddc4ed8e8adc18c29221dbec6b4ecc70d9e03c1b2e88d1eba3208fbb33c0e78&width=400&height=225)
Statuette of Krishna as a child playing the flute from the second half of the 19th century from Jaipur, Rajasthan
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GN24BNOGFZCMJEJECZRQMDPX34.jpg?smart=true&auth=6cf94e5b90909a5442a933d1442ffcc65ae9544b608aa5862fe27bec9a414f23&width=400&height=225)
A cut-out of actor Amitabh Bachchan at Louvre Abu Dhabi's Bollywood Superstars: A Short Story of Indian Cinema. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TSYJUKFRGBAIJOTQZ64ME5QGAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd88e81c62349205fc490666c9020ec6634843538e74e9bb25e2a8f20fa62c0b&width=400&height=225)
Chhau dance mask from Purulia, West Bengal, of the demon king Ravana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QTQ375LCFBHFPJELWBQKGAWARI.jpg?smart=true&auth=190a9579bf2bdd9e8cb5d3dcdbebb86b1a866e7854edf2568c569c6859688a25&width=400&height=225)
Advertising posters and calendars from the early 19th century that provided visual inspiration for the first film directors of Indian cinema
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GYI2QQYCDZDO7PPMPRJN4XJOBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=407160b462e1e09b1e4178600f3a947fcd385eb5337cd6d60b8a3c35d66d456a&width=400&height=225)
Women's dress (jumlo) from the first half of the 20th century made of embordered cotton and silk from Sindh, Pakistan, and metal and plastic
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LMSG7W3UGNHRVODIAGN65HTULQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d50db61f20dc317963f835806567a7d799c9c72a4b49b5aa254828f741fac827&width=400&height=225)
Ceremonial daggers from 19th century India
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VLMDWUZKRNDZFEVGYN7GOH4CA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=de7fd0d0d1170d64c4a34a71fa0a6b1ca5053206475a7a234e4c95407eee16a9&width=400&height=225)
Black-and-white photographs from the movies of Indian director Satyajit Ray
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DAUGUFO6QFFP3JSQPYHPLOCVBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=295ec62f9e2501ad4c616cb4a3a639b65a119fd8e216b6878fceebdfe978c4b8&width=400&height=225)
A recreation of the ornate single-screen cinemas of India designed in the Art Deco style
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CEP3ZEVSKJH5HDQWQAORH2TQLY.jpg?smart=true&auth=653dc53e5c2229e0c319e67fa9d788fc659823af604e85fd1ff7da783b647b50&width=400&height=225)
Portable storyteller's altar with panels detailing scenes from Ramayan
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E3KOC573A5D57G6STIPO3LJ4DA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cddc4ed8e8adc18c29221dbec6b4ecc70d9e03c1b2e88d1eba3208fbb33c0e78&width=400&height=225)
Statuette of Krishna as a child playing the flute from the second half of the 19th century from Jaipur, Rajasthan
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s new exhibition showcases magic of Bollywood
Bollywood Superstars: A Short Story of Indian Cinema illustrates and celebrates the extravaganza of the film genre
![Maan Jalal](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Ff4334dea-76c8-44d3-9186-3b33904bc077.png?smart=true&auth=b5db40c4ebe192d7fbb1db21df087f413a321555a7788b8a7dcd5f7c66b7a599&width=70&height=70)
Maan Jalal
24 January, 2023
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic