Panorama of Calcutta (1899) Online

Panorama of Calcutta (1899)

This is a historically important film because it was one of the first to be shot in India. It might have very well been the first but I'm guessing that would be hard to tell since I'm sure a lot of the early pictures shot there are no longer around. What we see here really isn't all that different from what was being shot in American and French cinema at the time. The camera is set up on a boat and as it goes down river it captures some events going on the shore.

Yes, there's nothing ground-breaking about any of what we see but it's still fascinating to watch because it gives you a true and authentic glimpse of India during this period. It's interesting to see what people were doing down by the river as well as the outfits that they were wearing.