Shalom Bollywood is a 2017 documentary film directed by Danny Ben-Moshe, exploring the little-known story of the Jewish influence in the Hindi film industry from the early 20th century. The film features interviews with Jewish stars, producers, and directors who found a home in the Indian film industry. Ayesha Dharker provides narration, taking the audience through the history of Bombay's film industry and how Indian films played a vital role in providing refuge and opportunity for Jewish people fleeing persecution in Europe.
Shalom Bollywood is structured as a series of vignettes that weave together a range of parallel stories. The opening sequence sets the stage by introducing the audience to Nadira, one of the most beautiful actresses of Hindi cinema, who was born Florence Ezekiel of a Baghdadi Jewish family settled in India. By featuring Nadira, the film establishes that Jews were always a part of the Indian film industry.
The documentary explores the prominent roles Jews played in creating the fantasy world of Hindi cinema. One such figure was Ezra Mir, who was instrumental in creating the image of Raj Kapoor, the legendary actor-director, in the 1940s. Mir was the writer and editor for Kapoor's first ever film, and one of the many Jews who made Hindi cinema what it is today.
The film also delves into how music has played an essential role in the Indian film industry. The legendary singer, K.L. Saigal, was one of the first stars of Hindi cinema and was relatively obscure until the Jewish brothers: Saraswati Devi and Rai Chand Boral changed Hindi film music forever. They introduced Western-style music, which has become a staple of Indian film music ever since.
Other Jewish artists such as Sulochana, David Abraham Cheskin, Rachel Reuben, Ruby Myers, and Pramila were all active in the industry in the 1920s and 1930s. The stories of these Jewish stars demonstrate how the Jewish community was an integral part of Bombay's vibrant Cosmopolitan culture in the early 20th century.
The film moves beyond the stars and explores how Jews have been financially and creatively involved in Bollywood for decades. For instance, as the industry began to produce more technologically complex films, Jews played a significant role in the introduction of new technologies. In the 1960s and 1970s, equipment was sourced from Israel since there were no domestic facilities capable of producing the latest high-tech technologies.
Further, the documentary focuses on the deeply felt emotions of the Jewish community in India, who felt welcomed by India's new leaders, led by Mahatma Gandhi, who promised to provide a safe haven for those fleeing persecution. The Jewish community found a place in India and saw a future in the Bombay film industry.
Shalom Bollywood concludes with an acknowledgment of the dwindling number of Jews in Bombay and their descendants' contributions to Indian society. The film leaves viewers with a message of hope and reconciliation that aims to bring together the disparate communities that have been integral to Bombay's rich cultural history.
Overall, Shalom Bollywood is a thought-provoking and enlightening documentary that sheds light on the Jewish contribution to Bombay's early cinema. The incorporation of interviews with Jewish stars, producers, and directors adds a personal and emotional touch, while Ayesha Dharker's narration ties the stories together seamlessly. The film not only tells the story of the Jews in Indian cinema but highlights the significance of the Jewish community in India's rich cosmopolitan culture.
Shalom Bollywood is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.
