{"id":1288,"date":"2014-06-25T06:29:36","date_gmt":"2014-06-25T06:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/?p=1288"},"modified":"2015-04-27T07:10:13","modified_gmt":"2015-04-27T07:10:13","slug":"storyltd-absolute-film-memorabilia-auction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/storyltd-absolute-film-memorabilia-auction\/","title":{"rendered":"Coveted Merchandise From Cult Films Go Under The Hammer At Online Auction Today"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Poster<\/a>

Poster of V Shantaram’s musical Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne (1963), starring Rajashri and Jeetendra<\/p><\/div>\n

For ardent collectors of original vintage posters, for music buffs who thrive on Bollywood songs of the 1960s-80s, for film aficionados who love to revisit the finesse of the regional films of the golden era, collecting and appreciating movie memorabilia is a lovingly nurtured passion.<\/p>\n

Absolute Film Memorabilia Auction, <\/strong>StoryLTD’s\u00a0<\/strong>first ever online auction dedicated to Bollywood and regional film memorabilia, is all set to open today, featuring 73 lots that include LP records, synopses, posters, and lobby cards from smash hit films from the 1950s to the late 2000s.<\/p>\n

This visual feast goes under the e-hammer on June 25 \u2013 26, 2014, with bidding beginning at IST 8pm on June 25 on www.storyltd.com<\/a>. The format will be that of an “absolute auction” – there is no minimum price requirement to be met for lots to be sold; every bid is potentially a winning bid. Bidding for each lot will start at INR 1500 (USD 25).<\/p>\n

The covetable range of merchandise from cult films features yesteryear and contemporary celebrities. Amitabh Bachchan makes multiple appearances; posters feature the veteran in swashbuckling poses in Don, Laawaris, Namak Halaal, Silsila, The Great Gambler, Shakti, Muqaddar ka Sikandar, <\/em>and Majboor, <\/em>among others. Shammi Kapoor oozes charisma in An Evening in Paris, Chinatown <\/em>and Brahmachari, <\/em>to name a few films. Actresses Helen, Sharmila Tagore, Vyjayanthimala, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri and Rekha work their charms in Technicolor and Eastmancolor splendour.<\/p>\n

Nish Bhutani,\u00a0Chief Operating Officer at Saffronart, told Learning and Creativity<\/em>\u00a0in an email interview, \u201cIt (the auction) includes the 1950s and extends up to the late 2000s; there are posters of Daag<\/em> (1952), Mother India<\/em> (1957), Veer Zara<\/em> (2004) and Rang de Basanti<\/em> (2006), among others, on auction.”<\/p>\n

The scope of the collections is not restricted to decades and includes rare original posters of films that are remembered and appreciated to this day. “We never made any deliberate decisions to restrict collections to particular decades,” says Bhutani. “Obtaining originals is an extremely difficult and painstaking process, as they are not easily obtained and if they are, they are not always in a good condition. The ones we are offering on auction have been selected after considering if they are in a condition to be sold.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Raj<\/a>

Raj Kapoor in Dil Hi To Hai<\/p><\/div>\n

StoryLTD was launched by Saffronart, one of India\u2019s leading online auction houses, in June 2013, and has held two highly successful absolute auctions online so far. Bidders from around the world will be able to participate in this 24-hour auction.<\/p>\n

StoryLTD\u2019s previous auction, Absolute Art and Collectibles,<\/em> which was held in May this year, included some Bollywood memorabilia, but the upcoming Film Memorabilia Auction<\/em>\u00a0is StoryLTD\u2019s first auction dedicated entirely to Indian cinema. \u201cAdditionally, all lots are offered at zero reserve prices, which should encourage collectors and cinema aficionados to participate in the auction. The earlier auctions also followed this trend.\u00a0Absolute Art and Collectibles<\/em>\u00a0featured a mix of coveted artworks and rare collectibles ranging from furniture, to books and jewellery, among other valuable items. The one before that,\u00a0Absolute Art<\/em> on StoryLTD<\/em>, was held in April and was dedicated to Modern and Contemporary Indian art,\u201d Nish\u00a0Bhutani\u00a0said.<\/p>\n

The Bollywood Film Industry has become one of the world\u2019s largest film industries. Producing around 1000 films a year (twice the annual output of Hollywood), the stars of its silver screen are known the world over. \u00a0Bollywood veterans from films of the \u201870s and \u201880s find an equal footing among the current and older generations and are held in high reverence, while younger stars enjoy popularity among current movie-goers.<\/p>\n