Director

Franz Osten

1 Film in collection

Franz Ostermayr was born in Munich in 1876 and aspired to be a photographer like his father. In 1907 he founded a travelling cinema called Original-Physograph Company, together with his brother Peter. Peter later founded the predecessor of Bavaria Studios, which is one of the largest film studios in Germany today.

One of the first films that Osten screened was a short documentary called Life in India. A few years later he met London-based lawyer Himanshu Rai, with whom he collaborated on some of the greatest films seen in India.

Shiraz (Flyer)

Shiraz (1928)

Shiraz is based on the true story of the 17th-century Mughal ruler Shah Jahan, his queen and the building of the world’s most beautiful monument to love, the Taj Mahal. Shot entirely in India, it features lavish costumes and gorgeous settings, including the extraordinary fort at Agra. Himansu Rai (also the film’s producer) stars as the humble potter Shiraz, who follows his childhood sweetheart Selima (Enakshi Rama Rau) when she is sold by slave traders to the future emperor. More

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