vintagesareeblouse:

Ellis R. Dungan was an American filmmaker who made a number of  well known Tamil movies in the 1930s and 1940s including Meera on the medieval princess and saint. MS Subbulakshmi played and sang for the eponymous role.  Given the setting, the costumes are all Rajasthani. 

Dungan is the subject of a documentary in production (An American in Madras) from where this picture is taken.