Making our way through one of the alleys in Delhi's busy Karol Bagh market, we reach Navin Anand's shop. It's crammed with coffee-table books (he deals in book distribution), paintings and old photographs. And lying on a centre table are scores of posters from very old Indian films; we look up to see a life-size Mughal-e-Azam poster towering over us.
"The other poster of the same film was auctioned at Osians for Rs 200,000," grins Anand, pointing to the coloured film poster showcasing Dilip Kumar and Madhubala clinched in each other's arms.
Anand and his wife Rekha own some 2,000-odd Indian film posters, most of which are lined on the walls of his studio. There are posters of old films like Sahib, Biwi aur Ghulam, Mother India, Ek Masoom, Sholay and many more, including rare ones like a hand-painted Bahu Begum poster in a dull yellow.
"The price of this one has appreciated by at least 1,000 per cent," he says. Anand also shows us one of Satyajit Ray's film posters, handpainted by the great director himself.
For someone who has been collecting old film posters since 1992, Anand travelled to every cranny, nook and corner of the country in search of posters. "There was a time when I was collecting old posters for 365 days. Many distributors and producers whom I had approached happily gave away these posters to me. I knew there was value attached to it," he says.
Anand's instinct has been proven right. Today, individuals like Neville Tuli, through platforms like Osian's, are promoting old film posters as a valid art form and auctioning them. According to Tuli, the price range of vintage film posters varies from Rs 8,000 to Rs 1,25,000, depending on the historical significance, quality, rarity, condition and size of the work.
Osian's had even bought out a catalogue that showcased vintage movie posters, besides lobby and show cards of Hindi cinema between the 1930s and 1970s. A Mother India poster in the catalogue, for instance, stood in the price range of Rs 25,000-35,000 while the classic Amitabh Bachchan starrer Deewar was in the price bracket of Rs 15,000-25,000.
What do new collectors need to understand about collecting old film posters? "Posters should be original, not damaged and in good condition," stresses Bharat Gohel who, besides collecting old film posters, also sells them from his outlet in Delhi's Hauz Khas village. While his father was an ardent collector of film posters, Gohel made a business of it. "I never touched my father's collection but since I had already started my own collection, I began selling that," he says.
Interested collectors, he says, should always look for the name of the printer, which is usually mentioned at the bottom of the poster. "Some of the printers have already shut shop, in which case the poster automatically becomes rare," says Gohel. "Pay attention to the paper too and don't be fooled into getting a mere reprint," warns Anand, admitting that he has a vast collection of reprints which some people sold to him as originals.
Which is why auction houses like Osian's should be a safe bet, albeit an expensive one, for keen collectors. Since a majority of people involved in the trade in India cater specifically to Bollywood posters, Osian's also becomes crucial for those collectors who are looking for Hollywood posters or world cinema.
Or one could look at websites like cafedreams.com where online auctioning takes place regularly. You just need to log on, become a member and bid for posters. The price range of posters here are anywhere between Rs 3,000 and Rs 10,000 for some of the old Bollywood films while newer film posters are affordable at Rs 500-800.
Those interested should also take a look at some of the shops in Mumbai's Chor Bazaar where individuals like Imtiaz Mankar have been selling genuine old film posters for decades. "Some of my customers come every month and buy at least one poster and gradually build their collection," says Mankar.
"People who want to spend very little money today but want good returns after a few years should definitely invest in Shahrukh Khan film posters," says Gohel, who feels that the superstar's posters are drying up in the market.
A Chak De! India poster, for instance, can be bought for Rs 500-1,000 today but is definitely bound to appreciate in price after some time , according to Gohel, who sells Hollywood posters too.
"Love and obsession to sustain the process," feels Tuli, "is the key for any kind of collecting journey." Anand feels that there's no point calling yourself a collector if you don't own gems like Mughal-e-Azam, Umrao Jaan ('I have a poster which has a background done by Anjolie Ela Menon'), Mother India and Do Bigha Zameen. Since he has an invaluable collection, Anand is now working towards insuring his posters. At Osian's, for instance, all film posters are insured.
That said, which old film poster are you nailing on your wall?
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