Panorama of Calcutta (1899)

[puketinho]

I could see some satelites dishes in 1899

[lichtbroeder]

In the film Little Buddha, a Tibetan monk gestures at a busy market and temple scene in Nepal and tells a boy that in 100 years, everyone that he sees before him will be dead. He was speaking not morbidly, but of impermanence. This film in a small way has made "immortal", average people living their lives, and our shared mortality, as well as our living, beating hearts, connect us to them in 1899, as surely as if they were still on this earth.

[williamsonproduction]

Whatever the place it may be, Calcutta, Banaras or Varanasi, it is India. At least we get to know the way of living in that time and how people used to live in those time, exactly 100+ years ago in India. See other BFI movies and it is a treasure trove that we Indians have got online. BRAVO BFI.

[stonewtube]

Nothing much has changed. Looks the same today as it did back then....

[viklondon]

thats great

[dipakghosh1]

Its Varanasi (Benaras), the eternal city of the Hindus. Its not Calcutta.

[twyborn29]

@dipakghosh1 - do people never read the information that goes with the film??? It tells you that this is varanasi but that was mistakenly described as calcutta over 100 years ago!!!

[dipakghosh1]

Its not Calcutta, but Varanasi (Benaras), the eternal city of the Hindus on the banks of the Ganga(Ganges).

[elolof]

fantastic!

[kmcrocks1]

ya they are holy ghats of river ganges in banarassssssss

[stonewtube]

more than 100 years later and it still looks the same. amazing!

[HindiUrduDillagi]

Happy new year.

[123pelerin]

Such a historical treasure. Tnx for uploading.

[Jay78bhupats]

Any one who has uploaded this vedio pls chabge the title, I am Bengali but I am brought up in Benaras aur Kashi aur Varanasi and this is Varanasi not Calcutta.

[latham29]

@Jay78bhupats - hey it gives you the whole history of the film if you can be bothered to read the information provided. the film's title is 'Panorama of Calcutta' even if the film was shot in Varanasi!!

[deepvaidyaa]

It's Varanasi, vetican of india dat time

[jajaborduniyay]

I am a Bengali man and u can't imagine how much I am touched to see my forefathers in this film.

[sappho01]

@jajaborduniyay Are you now? In which case you would have realised this film was not even shot in Bengal, let alone Calcutta.

[bdfi]

i love watching these vintage movies. Gives you a visual of what its was like back then, man i wish i could go back to then

[MaryOMackie]

Hm. Looks exactly the same.

[mikemanners11]

It would be nice if someone cleaned up this footage and digitally enhanced it so we could see the people better.

[hnymooner]

been to both Banares (Varanasi) and Calcutta, sure looks like the bathing Gats in Varanasi to me, some sitar music would be great...

[anthonynm5]

the oldest thing ia avva seen

[GreekChild]

Simply amazing.

[richragsdale]

agreed

[sundareshwari]

Any true lover of Varanasi will recognise it at some point of this film.

I think it's time for this 109 years old tittle to change-that or you could add in your tittle something of the kind:(In Reality Varanasi).

Other than that it's a beautiful footage and thank you for uploading it.

I just returned from Varanasi and expect to go back sometime in January :)

[ForWhomMyBallTolls]

It's Varanasi, not Calcutta!

Ok, sorry, I'm a dick lol

[hotluxembourgreggae]

great but you could add a music no? to make it a bit more interesting

[deepvaidyaa]

ITS BANARAS NOW VARANASI IN INDIA

[BFIfilms]

Thanks for your message. The text about the film explains that the footage is of Varanasi and not Kolkata. However, 'Panorama of Calcutta' is the title that the film has been known by for 109 years, even if it's woefully inaccurate!

[pyancha]

It is not Calcutta--it's BENARAS!!

[BFIfilms]

Thanks for your message. As you'll see from the text about the film, it was misidentified by the film production company back in 1899.