Letter from Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Delhi, India, to James Ivory, Mumbai, India, 1970 September 9 : autograph manuscript signed.

Telling him that although "phone lines are down between Delhi and Bombay and we can't get through to the hospital," Jhab's mother (unnamed in this letter but referred to in a later letter) reportedly seems to be improving; describing where they placed a picture of Wajid Ali Shah, which Jhabvala does not like ("his eyes follow us around, and that leer of his."); joking that the art in her home now clearly shows visitors "what sort of an India it is that we propagate the image of, and no one need be surprised at the vile slander perpetrated with every book and film"; asking why he hasn't told her anything about Bombay Talkie being accepted to the San Francisco International Film Festival and about the rejections they've received from Universal, United Artists, and Columbia; sympathizing with Merchant's current struggles and acknowledging that this film will be difficult to sell but that the meaningful moment will be when the film is "playing in a theatre before a paying audience"; telling him that Barry Foster will be acting in the opening of "two new plays by Harold Pinter" at the Duchess Theatre on London's West End; wondering if she should send Foster a telegram to wish him well and suggesting that Ivory see him; telling him about an upcoming festival focusing on Indian music and dance and suggesting he take Sasha Bruce to it; wondering why she hasn't heard from him.