A Sword Dance Performed before the King and Queen in India (1912)

Part of India on Film: 1899 – 1947 This collection of newly digitised films is part of the BFI’s contribution to the UK-India Year of Culture 2017, in partnership with the British Council. View more films on BFI Player (UK only) Jaw-dropping acrobatics for royal visitors. Don’t try this at home! Somewhere in India - probably Delhi, during the 1911 Delhi Durbar - men are doing dangerous things with swords. This is the just the sort of acrobatic turn that cameramen (in this case from Gaumont) like to capture on film, to entertain those who couldn’t be there in person. A large crowd watches, but despite the film’s title, if there’s any royalty present they’re off-screen. Subscribe: Watch more on the BFI Player: Follow us on Twitter: Like us on Facebook: Follow