Cinema’s Visual Legacy Comes Alive at Delhi’s IFFD Exhibition

New Delhi is celebrating film history in a visually striking way this week as part of the ongoing International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD). A special showcase of classic Bollywood and world cinema memorabilia has been unveiled at Bharat Mandapam, offering visitors a rare chance to step into the cinematic past through original posters and artifacts from iconic films.

Curated by author-archivist Neville Tuli and presented by the Tuli Research Centre, the exhibition revives the art and allure of cinema’s promotional visuals — from towering hand-painted posters that once dominated theatre facades to intimate lobby cards and showcards that were part of the movie-going experience in earlier decades.

One standout piece is the hand-painted poster of Sholay (1975), featuring its legendary characters — Jai, Veeru, Gabbar Singh, and Thakur — which once hung outside cinemas at the time of the film’s release. Viewers can also find representations of Amitabh Bachchan’s Deewar and Raj Kapoor’s Mera Naam Joker among other cinematic treasures, illustrating how film promotion and popular visual culture have evolved over time.

Rather than displaying captions alongside each piece, Tuli chose to let the visuals speak for themselves, inviting visitors to absorb the art without textual framing. Many of the items on display come from a comprehensive archive of film materials collected over three decades — encompassing both Indian and global cinema.

Sections dedicated to the works of legendary actors such as Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore — both honoured with lifetime achievement awards at the festival’s opening — further enrich the experience, while international posters, including Hollywood classics and Japanese prints, broaden the exhibition’s appeal.

Visitors have been vocal about the emotional pull of the exhibition, with many recalling personal memories tied to films they grew up watching and posters they may have once walked past on Delhi’s streets.