British Raj Movies

The thronging streets of Chennai in festive mood are captured by this lively amateur film.

Film showing the Viceregal party entering Delhi on lavishly decorated elephants, as part of the Coronation durbar of 1903.

Fashionably attired folk attend the races in Kolkata.

Girl guides on parade at a rally in southern India attended by Olave Baden-Powell.

What’s the hidden message inside this intriguing film, shot at a Salvation Army establishment in western India?

From the arrival of a new viceroy to street markets, this amateur film captures the diversity of life in colonial India.

Early film of a crowded street scene in an unidentified Indian city.

The Duke rides an elephant as he ventures on safari in Bengal.

The inauguration of a unit of the Indian Defence Force in Calcutta.

Dignitaries including the Nizam of Hyderabad gather to celebrate the Durbar in honour of George V, who arrives by boat in Bombay.

Gorgeously dreamlike colour images of (then) French India – present-day Puducherry.

Jaw-dropping acrobatics for royal visitors.

Armoured elephants, sacred monkeys and a camel carriage from Rajasthan.

Rare stencil-coloured images of early 20th century Delhi during a Muslim festival.

Anti-Congress propaganda film made by a District Officer in India.

The Maharajah of Kapurthala and guests travel on elephants and men catch fish on the River Bias.

Military occasions around India and Pakistan, featuring the Khyber Pass, Srinagar, Rawalpindi and Peshawar.

The Maharajah of Jind inspects the guard of honour.