Letter from Ismail Merchant, Mumbai, India, to James Ivory, New York, New York, [1964] January 26 : autograph manuscript signed.

Admitting he does not know exactly where Ivory is now, but he will be sending this letter to New York, the thought of which is a comfort because it is one step closer to India, and Merchant; preparing "The Householder" for submission to the Indian State film awards, which he considers very important; asking Ivory to meet Lillian Ross in New York and tell her that they do want to work with her but cannot right now, knowing Ivory "will put it nicely"; asking about items he has already requested that Ivory send him, and adding a new list of things-- supplies and gifts for friends; also requesting that Ivory send Merchant's "Oscar plaque," which was sent to New York by mistake; repeating the news about funds sent by Shashi Kapoor for "Shakespeare Wallah," and expressing his hope that Ivory can be in India for Eid; inquiring after Ivory's father's health and saying Merchant will be writing to him himself; asking Ivory to bring the negative of a photograph of the two of them; saying he has read in Time magazine that the film "Hallelujah the Hills" is doing well in the U.S. and wondering what is going on with "The Householder" there; repeating his wish that Ivory give up the New York apartment, "as it is a waste of money"; asking Ivory to please finish things and come to India soon to work on the actors film ["Shakespeare Wallah"].