Somewhere in India, troops of 20th Indian Division train in jungle warfare, and a concert party is staged for Indian troops' entertainment.

In a forest an Indian officer, wearing the 'sword' patch of 20th Indian Division, stands by a tree with his map. A soldier kneels behind him. He gestures to the soldier who runs back through the forest. More soldiers, non-commissioned or Viceroy's commissioned officers (NCOs/VCOs), join the officer. He indicates something on his map with close-up (details not legible). His subordinates go back. One of them, a VCO, gestures and is joined by his NCOs and he points something out. An Indian soldier fires a two-inch mortar. A smokescreen spreads on the far side of a small river with shingle banks. Indian troops advance across the river at a walk before sprinting into the tall grass on the far side. The officer seen earlier crosses the river. Soldiers charging across the river (towards camera); the sun is bright and shines on the water as they splash across. Troops running away from camera through long grass and into a treeline. Troops patrolling cautiously through forest with dappled light. Two soldiers emerge from a treeline near a river; one falls as if shot and the other bolts back into the trees. The officer looks out with his binoculars. The river. An Indian soldier firing a Bren gun. Brief snatch of a shot showing soldier loading a two-inch mortar. Ambiguous shot; three British soldiers by a jeep on a track. Various shots of a concert party for Indian troops, featuring female dancers and male comics, some humorous sketches and musicians. The venue appears to be a temporary stage (decorated with a design of a crown with crossed spade and pick axe (suggesting Sappers and Miners?) and rifle) in a village and some children are present. A formation badge is seen, possibly that of HQ Lines of Communication Command (of South East Asia Command).

Notes

No dopesheet survives for this film and consequently details are unclear. Some of the composition would suggest this is either reconstruction, or (and perhaps more likely) shows a unit training.

Series note: The MWY series of films is believed to be part of a ‘pool’ of film received by the Government of India from various sources, including South East Asia Command, the Indian Inter-Service Public Relations Directorate, the Ministry of Information, and from Allied governments. This footage would have been considered for editing and release through the Indian Newsreel Parade; see INR series.