The first Hindi color film, Kisan Kanya, hit the screens in 1937. It wasn’t until the 1950s, however, when melodramas and lavish romantic musicals became all the rage, that film in color really began to circulate in India. In those early days, Indian cinema was called “Bombay cinema.” As for the word “Bollywood,” its origins remain unclear. It is thought to have emerged in the 1960s and 70s; alternatively, it might have been established by the journalist Bevinda Collaco, who started a column in Screen magazine called “On the Bollywood Beat.” This exhibition, which features clips from 40 films along with archival material, tells the remarkable story of Indian cinema, beginning back in the 19th century. —Elena Clavarino