BIB_ID
453428
Accession number
MA 23840.892
Creator
Merchant, Ismail, sender.
Credit line
Gift of James Ivory, 2022.
Description
1 item (2 pages) ; 25.4 x 20.4 cm + envelope
Notes
Written on stationary from the Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The Maharaja of Jodhpur mentioned in this letter is Gaj Singh II, who was born in the Palace in 1948.
During this trip Merchant was accompanied by producer/director Anthony Korner. According to Ivory's notes, the footage shot during this trip influenced Merchant Ivory's "Autobiography of a Princess" (1975).
Envelope stamped, addressed to Mr. James Ivory, 400 East 52nd Street, New York, 10022, U.S.A., postmarked November 22, 1971.
During this trip Merchant was accompanied by producer/director Anthony Korner. According to Ivory's notes, the footage shot during this trip influenced Merchant Ivory's "Autobiography of a Princess" (1975).
Envelope stamped, addressed to Mr. James Ivory, 400 East 52nd Street, New York, 10022, U.S.A., postmarked November 22, 1971.
Provenance
James Ivory.
Summary
Describing the "incredibly beautiful" city of Jaisalmer, and the "threat of war" currently looming over it [presumably a reference to the war between East and West Pakistan, ongoing at the time with Indian involvement]; telling him about Khusheli Bai, an elderly singer and former courtesan who sang beautifully but kept upbraiding her tabla player 'as he was only good for Bhajans"; assuring him that "we have been photographing steadily" for ten days and "this is our third stop"' telling Ivory he would like to return to Jaisalmer with him; describing their time in Jodhpur with the 24-year-old British-educated Maharaja and the feature film he would like to collaborate on with Merchant Ivory; describing the Umaid Bhawan Palace; telling Ivory that they will "move on" to Jaipur tomorrow, and then to Udaipur, and will be back in Bombay by the 28th; telling him "I miss you very much and think of you every day."
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