Letter from Ismail Merchant, New York, New York, to Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Delhi, India, 1971 January 4 : autograph manuscript.

Wishing Jhabvala well for the new year; predicting 1971 will be exciting and successful; specifying "I am not worried about the past as I never look back, I always want to think ahead"; commenting on Jhabvala's idea to send the letter to the press and see their reaction; remarking that it is "important for all of us to get this film [Bombay Talkie] released in India as switfly as possible"; discussing the budget for Andy Warhol's film "Trash"; mentioning a project he wants to be involved in that will star the actress Jane Forth, also in "Trash"; expressing his doubt that Ivory will want to work on this project, but saying he will do it regardless; enclosing four photocopied articles about the cast of "Trash."