ABSTRACT
The chapter explores the initial years of the sound film made in the Indian subcontinent, a period marked by a paucity of surviving film prints. By tracing the contributions of key figures of the period and the varied cultural backgrounds they belonged to, the chapter attempts to bring to life the astonishing range of sounds and musical influences that continue to impact filmmakers and composers. By studying surviving songs and examining film magazine reviews and, most importantly, the precious interview and composition notes of the music composer Madhavlal Master for the serial Hatimtai (1933), the chapter examines how the introduction of sound film technology heralded fascinating ways of engaging with sound and music, both familiar and new.
