Teen's Camera Gift Sparks Lifelong Passion, Leading to 800-Strong Collection

In 1996, A.P. Noushad, then a teenager in Malappuram, received a gift that would change his life, a Yashica DX analogue camera from his father, Kunhu Muhammed, who was working in the Gulf. At first, the camera served as a tool for capturing moments of daily life in his village, making him the envy of his classmates. But what began as casual photography soon grew into a deep fascination with cameras themselves.

Today, Mr. Noushad’s passion has culminated in an extraordinary collection of over 800 cameras sourced from more than 25 countries. His collection spans generations of photographic history, featuring vintage box and bellows cameras, Polaroids, underwater equipment, video recorders, and rare military and spy cameras. These treasures are housed in his private ‘Newseum’ located at Thottasseriara, Kannamangalam in Malappuram.

The 43-year-old Assistant Information Officer in Kozhikode explained the origins of many of his acquisitions. “Most of these cameras are from personal collections. They were often collected by parents and grandparents, but the next generation may fail to appreciate their historical value. When such cameras are put up for sale, I try to acquire and preserve them,” he said.

Among the highlights of his collection is a Graflex Speed Graphic press camera, manufactured in the early 1940s, which he identifies as the oldest camera in his possession. Another prized item is a Vageeswari field camera, India’s first such model, manufactured in Alappuzha. Acquiring this camera was a labor of love, as Mr. Noushad spent years searching for one before finally obtaining it from a collector in Kottayam. His most expensive purchase, however, is a wooden bellows camera, which he bought from a family in Mangaluru for ₹60,000.

Beyond cameras, Mr. Noushad’s collection includes newspapers dating back to the late 1700s, as well as over 200 radios, pagers, and mobile phones. Among the rarest items is a copy of The London Chronicle from 1764. He has showcased his collection at approximately 20 exhibitions across schools and colleges and is now planning to set up a museum next to his house for public display.