Capture of the Wild Indian Elephant

Amateur silent (soundtrack added) documentary dating to 1929, of the Khedda system of capture of Indian Elephants, filmed by an unknown photographer visiting then British India. Exact location is also unknown, perhaps it is in the northeastern region given the Maharanee of Cooch Behar being present. The end of the film also briefly covers the domestication aspects, and shows mahouts riding and working with the elephants.

Portions of this film (particularly the first part) are lower contrast/lower detail as they were dupes, and reversal dupes of this period just did not retain much detail. Edited each scene independently to improve as best as possible; removed the worst sections. Film was approx. 1200 feet across three reels.

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0:00 Start
0:23 Herd Located
1:12 Circle of Fires Lit, Watchers
4:22 Growing Restive
4:47 Bison Show up
6:17 The Stockade
6:49 "Beat" begins, elephants bolt
8:35 Entering, tying Ropes in Stockade
14:49 Spectators Watch from Above
19:00 Captives Led out of Stockade
22:17 Helping Fallen Elephant
24:10 Elephants Bathe in River
33:27 "No fool like a young fool"
36:15 Guests discuss Khedda Success
37:31 "...and so homeward..."
38:31 "...back to camp"
39:19 Domestication Corral
42:39 "Happy Childhood"
44:16 The End.

Soundtrack Added, songs licensed from Epidemic Sound:
Ganges Blues - Banaras Baba & Kolkata Kid
Kafi - Banaras Baba & Kolkata Kid
While my Sitar Gently Weeps - Karl Gustaf Westman
City of Shiva - Banaras Baba & Kolkata Kid
Krishnamurti - Banaras Baba & Kolkata Kid
Midnight Melodies - Palace on Wheels
Dhani - Palace on Wheels
Soul Sangam - Palace on Wheels
Chandini - Pawan Krishna
Laughter - Pawan Krishna
Wind of the Mountains - Palace on Wheels


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