Letter from Ismail Merchant, Mumbai, India, to James Ivory, New York, New York, [1964] April 8 : typescript signed.

Updating Ivory on the latest on the Columbia debacle, involving the MPEAA and the Finance Ministry and a possible alternate distributor for "The Householder"; assuming Ivory has received Jhab's letter concerning the same; describing the results of his breakfast conversation with Shashi, in which Shashi disapproved of Merchant's idea for a fundraising event and proposed intead that if MIP can raise 1 lakh, he will take care of the rest; describing Rashida's wedding and the many film community attendees-- Shashi, Jennifer, Leela, Prayag, Jabeen, Geeta Bali, "the Bhavnagars," etc.; mentioning Ruth's request for a "gown" and repeating his own request that Ivory bring two records; discussing the logistics of meeting for the Juhu Beach holiday; briefly mentioning the script for "Shakespeare Wallah," and that Madhur would be "marvelous" in the actress role;