Egyptian mummies have always been a secret fascination for children and adults worldwide. Now locals in Mumbai will get to travel back in time to the land of the Pharaohs and witness a grand revival of the Egyptian civilization in their very own neighborhood museum. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai (also known as the Prince of Wales Museum) along with the British Museum in London is hosting the exhibition of Mummy: The Inside Story between November 21, 2012 and March 24, 2013.

The exhibition includes many exciting workshops and events for children. One of the main attractions of the exhibition is the 3D film on the 3000-year-old mummy of an Egyptian temple priest, Nesperenub. All the exhibits have been specially brought in from the British Museum to showcase Egypt’s rich cultural history to Mumbai denizens.

The 20-minute 3D film unravels the mysteries of the Egyptian mummies by conducting a virtual unwrapping of the mummy of Nesperenub using computerized Tomography scanning and X-rays. The film is screened every half-hour from 11 am to 5.30 p.m.

The film that has delighted children of all ages is proving to be an enthralling experience for the adults as well. “Previously, we had to physically unravel a mummy in order to explore it, but with this technology, we can look inside while leaving the mummy intact,” said Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum when he spoke at the inauguration of the exhibition.

The 3D film creates a simulation experience for the audience, where viewers travel inside the body and discover the secrets of the complex mummification process. The film also uncovers some hidden facts about the mummification process such as extraction of the brains through the nose without cutting the skull using metal hooks. In ancient Egypt, a set of jars were used to hold the organs extracted from the body.

Besides Egyptian mummies and their coffins, the exhibition also showcases religious artifacts, idols, and hieroglyph-covered stelae. Special tours are conducted on Wednesdays for under-privileged children and for the blind. The exhibition’s forensic approach to studying Egypt’s history is a radical experiment by the British Museum.

Mumbai is the place to be within the next two months if one wishes to catch a glimpse of their favorite mummy. “Egyptian mummies have been a subject of intense curiosity around the world, so this exhibition will be very interesting for Mumbai visitors,” says Kumari Selja, a union minister for social justice and empowerment.

Image Courtesy : JohnBurke

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It is a charming irony that the man whose appearance is best remembered as Frankenstein’s monster should be equally regarded for his mellifluous voice as narrator (and protagonist) in ‘Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’

It is another irony that ‘Boris Karloff’ was never his legal name. William Henry Pratt signed his name as “William Henry Pratt AKA Boris Karloff.” He was the youngest of nine siblings; his older brothers were distinguished members of the British government. Mr. Karloff abandoned this career to become a more respectable monster.

He was born in London, England in 1887, with bow legs, a lisp, and a stutter. He shed the stutter, but the lisp remained and helped distinguish his usually soft voice. That distinctive voice has become most associated with the 1966 television production of Dr. Seuss’s ‘Grinch.’

In 1909, he toured Canada, performing theatre. Afterwards, Mr. Pratt became Mr. Karloff on stage. In 1912, a cyclone hit Regina, Saskatchewan, where he had been staying. He and other performers helped clean up the city.

He was cast in silent films when he first arrived in Hollywood. Mr. Karloff appeared in eighty films before playing the monster in James Whale’s version of ‘Frankenstein’ (1931). He was credited as “?” in the immensely successful feature.

Other roles followed swiftly, many that were in horror films. He appeared as Frankenstein’s monster in two more films: ‘Bride of Frankenstein’ (1935) and ‘Son of Frankenstein’ (1939). He also played Imhotep in ‘The Mummy’ and Dr. Fu Manchu in ‘The Mask of Fu Manchu,’ both roles in 1932.

Although he was first a silent film star, he made the transition to ‘talkies’ easily, and recorded several stories. He played ‘Cymbeline’ for the Shakespeare Recording Society and narrated ‘Peter and the Wolf’ with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra.

Other recordings were intended for children. Among these were ‘Just So Stories’ by Rudyard Kipling, ‘Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes,’ and ‘The Hunting of the Snark’ by Lewis Carroll.

Mr. Karloff had grown up quite poor; he is quoted as once having wished for an extra dime for a pair of doughnuts with his coffee. Perhaps because of his roots, he was charitable, kind and a gentleman. He donated particularly to children’s charities.

He was also interested in fair treatment for adults: he was a charter member of the Screen Actors Guild, which was formed as a reaction to the working conditions at the Hollywood Studios in the 1930s.

Boris Karloff continued acting until his death in 1969; a couple of films were released posthumously. Perhaps his greatest legacy is his narration of ‘Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ (1966), which has been at the top of Christmas specials’ popularity lists for many years since. It is a fitting finale for a monster with a big heart.

Image Courtesy of  Fr. Dougal McGuire

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