This intriguing film seems to have a hidden message for us. It was apparently filmed in the grounds of a Salvation Army establishment in Ahmednagar, in Maharashtra, western India (the date is estimated and may be later than 1905). Groups of boys, clapping their hands in rhythmic unison, are arranged to make up various letters of an alphabet – clearly an ‘M’ at the start but some of the letters are less distinct. What do they spell?

Source: BFI

ACTUALITY. Scenes of children at Ahmednagar. No title. A group of similarly dressed Indian boys sit cross-legged on the ground by brick built buildings. The boys clap and are arranged in letters of the alphabet. The first group of boys sit in an `M' shape, then an `A' (?), `D', `N', a number of unidentified letters, an `A' and and `R' perhaps spelling out `Ahmednagar' (48ft). Note: film dated c.1900-1910.

Source: BFI Collections