Letter from Ismail Merchant, Mumbai, India, to James Ivory, New York, New York, [1964] May 3 : typescript signed.

Outlining the paperwork going back and forth between the Reserve Bank, Columbia, and MIP; planning to deposit the check from their unblocked funds into an American Express account; mentioning news from Ivory regarding their friend Alida and Ivory's stitches; saying they must use Alida in a film; saying he has heard from Jennifer and Shashi that Ivory is planning to come to India May 15 and is feeling put out that Ivory has not told him this himself, and that the date is not sooner; listing items he wishes Ivory to bring to India with him: a Nagra tape recorder, a leather belt, some posters for "The Householder"; discussing the issue of an appropriate short to accompany the English version of "The Householder" in Indian theaters; saying he went to the premiere of "Kashmir Ki Kali," starring Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore, with Shashi and Geeta Bali (Shammi Kapoor's wife) and it was awful; mentioning how much he likes Geeta and wants to do "The Widow" with her (and has told Ruth the same) so "I do not want to hear any counter arguments about it"; saying he has received a reply from Vivien Leigh, but she cannot come to the premiere of "The Householder" because she will be working on "Ship of Fools"; asking Ivory to visit Columbia New York before he leaves for India; asking if the Asia Society has invited critics to the screening of "The Delhi Way" and what the audience reaction was; suggesting Ivory bring a few posters for "The Delhi Way" as well; telling Ivory to "hurry up" and that "after six months of trials we will be opening a new chapter."