From Tehran to Beirut, the Jumani Brothers

This chapter offers a portrait of the Jumani family and its pivotal role in shaping the circulation of Indian cinema across the Middle East. Focused on the Jumani brothers’ journey from Tehran to Beirut, the chapter unveils their important contribution to the transnational film trade. In the 1960s, Iran emerged as a burgeoning cinema market, serving as a crucial meeting point for Indian distributors and their counterparts from Lebanon, Jordan, and Dubai. Recognizing the untapped potential of the Lebanese market, the Jumani brothers shifted their focus to Beirut, transforming it into a hub for the distribution of Hindi films in the Arab world. Their strategic subtitling choices underscored their profound understanding of regional dynamics, facilitating seamless exchanges with local film agents and adherence to linguistic preferences. By adapting subtitles to colloquial languages prevalent in each Middle Eastern territory, the Jumanis navigated complex linguistic landscapes, enhancing the accessibility and appeal of Indian films across the Middle East.