Before trailers went online, a new Hindi film reached its audience on paper. Distributors and cinemas handed out promotional booklets with hand-painted covers, credits and a synopsis, often in English, Hindi and Urdu. Most were thrown away after the show, which is exactly why the survivors are so special. These are five originals from the films' own releases.
Doosara Aadmi (1977)
Ramesh Talwar's first film as director, made under Yash Chopra's banner. Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh play a young couple whose marriage is thrown into turmoil by the older, enigmatic Nisha, a role that earned Raakhee several Filmfare nominations. The landscape booklet has a painted cover in vivid pinks, oranges and blues.
Aakhree Raasta (1986)
K. Bhagyaraj remade his own Tamil story Oru Kaidhiyin Diary, with Amitabh Bachchan in a double role as David, the wronged father, and Vijay, the police officer son sent to hunt him down. It was one of 1986's top-grossing Hindi films. This booklet has two painted covers with Jaya Prada and Sridevi.
Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995)
The third film in Akshay Kumar's Khiladi series, still remembered as an early Bollywood twist thriller, and for the hit song "Bholi Bhali Ladki". One cover shows a blood-streaked Akshay against a wall of fire beside Mamta Kulkarni.
Jaan (1996)
Ajay Devgan and Twinkle Khanna starred in this Raj Kanwar film, which grossed more than three times its budget, helped by Anand–Milind's songs "Jaan O Jaan" and "Jaan Gayi Dil Aaya". The booklet has two different full-colour covers.
Hera Pheri (2000)
The cult classic. Priyadarshan's comedy with Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal is a remake of the 1989 Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking, and more than two decades later Baburao, "Babu Bhaiya", is one of the most memed characters on the Indian internet. This original booklet introduces him as the "drunkard with a heart of gold".