KUMAR TALKIES Documentary Series

An ambitious exploration of the relationship between Kalpi – a small town in northern India – and its only surviving cinema, KUMAR TALKIES chronicles Kalpi’s economic decline and its citizens’ hopes and frustrations while taking a nostalgic look at the lost, lavish world of cinema. The film also considers the influence of television, which is gradually reducing the audience for the hall at the Kumar Talkies.

Director Rishi Kumar’s multimedia collage incorporates video, television, and archival images in richly textured narratives. In uncompromising cinema verite style, the crew’s interactions with Kalpi locals are also presented, making KUMAR TALKIES compelling for both the specifics of its account and for its commentary upon the documentary genre.