Letter from Ismail Merchant, Mumbai [?], India, to James Ivory, New York, New York, 1971 November : autograph manuscript signed.

Informing Ivory that "Tony [Korner] arrived [in Bombay] on Thursday at 11am," making his way easily through customs and bringing a 16mm Arriflex S camera and film with him; describing some paperwork Korner has taken care of and is sending draft copies of to Ivory; asking Ivory to send on the final version; telling him about their dinner that night, and how they went to see a film afterwards-- "The Devils" [directed by Ken Russell, 1970]-- at the Eros cinema, where they were joined by Subrata Mitra and others; saying Korner "didn't much care for the film"-- Merchant, who had already seen it, "found it grotesque and strange"; continuing, "Next day we had dinner at home at Motlebai St." and claiming the apartment looks much different now; listing who came to dinner: the Kendals, Shashi, Jennifer, and others; telling him Tony met Merchant's parents and some of his sisters; describing Saturday's activities, with a visit from "S.R." [presumably Satyajit Ray], and culmanating in a party at Asha Seth's place, with a recital of Sareng music and nautch [dancing] girls performing Kathak; telling Ivory, "I wish you were here with me. Everyone asked after you"; noting that Tony is staying at the Taj in room 618 [presumably Ivory's former room], which "has a lot of pleasant memories for me-- I feel you are with me"; telling Ivory they will leave for Rajasthan on Tuesday, then go on to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jamnagar, Junagadh(?) and Daryapur(?), back to Bombay by the 30th, then on to Hyderabad for a week, then to New York; entreating Ivory to "Keep after Savages and the new project"; asking Ivory to send a copy of the treatment for the film [presumably "Savages"] to help secure a theatre in London; promising he will write again tomorrow and "tell you more about our adventure"; closing with, "much love and take care of yourself."