Exhibition Honors Damodar Kamat's Cinematic Legacy in Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 9 (PTI) An exhibition celebrating the legacy of the late photographer Damodar Kamat is set to take place next week in Mumbai. Kamat, renowned for his striking production stills of classic films like “Pyaasa”, “Bandini”, “Sangam”, and “Teesri Kasam”, is being honored with this special event.

The six-day exhibition, titled “Legacies: Edition 1– Timeless Frames: Photographic Journey Through Indian Cinema”, has been curated by Parvez Damania and is hosted by Shivdutt Das’s Shivdutt Das Art Foundation. It will begin on September 20 at the Piramal NCPA Gallery in South Mumbai.

Kamat founded Kamat Foto Flash back in 1945, and it has since amassed a stunning archive of over 300,000 images. This vast collection is now curated by Neha and Abhishek Kamat, who represent the third generation preserving this legacy. Through digitization and collaboration with various scholars, filmmakers, and researchers, they continue to honor Damodar Kamat’s work through Kamat Foto Flash.

This exhibition will showcase timeless frames from iconic films like “Pyaasa,” “Sangam,” “Umrao Jaan,” and “Mera Naam Joker,” among others.

Curator Damania expressed that the exhibition provides audiences with a unique chance to revisit the golden era of cinema and enjoy some of its most iconic moments. “Understanding and enjoying Kamat Foto Flash & Damodar Kamat’s body of work has been a privilege. His photographs go beyond stills; they are living documents capturing the very essence of Indian cinema, which has always captivated me,” he said.

Shivdutt Das also noted his honor in hosting this striking collection. He remarked, “Art and culture are integral to a nation’s identity. Shri Damodar Kamat, a proud Marathi son of the soil, has been an unsung hero who made remarkable contributions to Indian cinema and its visual history.”

On the exhibition’s opening day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with esteemed actors including Rekha, Zeenat Aman, Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Ranbir Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt, are expected to grace the event with their presence.