The Sindhi Film Merchants, Bringing Bollywood to Tehran

This chapter sheds light on the transnational dynamics of film circulation, focusing on the pivotal role of a Sindhi merchant family in bringing Bollywood to Tehran. The chapter redefines the history of film circuits, emphasizing the creativity of agents who facilitated film circulation. Highlighting the significance of Indian merchants as film agents, the chapter traces their crucial role in the early days of the Indian film industry’s development. It explores how global trade networks facilitated the transnational circulation of films, transcending national boundaries and mediating connections between local and global markets. Examining the unique position of Sindhi merchants in facilitating Hindi film distribution, the chapter illustrates their contribution to merchant exchange between India and the Arab world. It unravels the geography of film circulation, starting from Iran and extending to Arabic-speaking countries. The chapter culminates in an analysis of the distribution of Raj Kapoor’s Sangam in 1964 by the Hinduja family, underscoring Tehran’s nodal role in the broader Middle Eastern circulation of Indian films.