Residency docudrama: a reel treat for visitors
ASI has shot a documentary highlighting the role of this historical edifice during the famous ‘Siege of Lucknow’ in 1857
Heritage enthusiasts and tourists visiting the Residency –one of the busiest historical site of the state capital— can now enjoy a documentary film which the ASI has shot, highlighting the role of this edifice during the ‘Siege of Lucknow’ that lasted from May to November, 1857.
Heritage enthusiasts and tourists visiting the Residency –the busiest historical site of the state capital— can now enjoy a documentary film which the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has shot, highlighting the role of this edifice during the ‘Siege of Lucknow’ that lasted from May to November, 1857.
ASI has called it one of the best documentaries ever shot on the Residency—a standing witness to the 1857 Uprising. The ‘docudrama’ shot by the ASI’s Lucknow Circle covers all historical events, starting from its construction to the 1857 Uprising and the siege that lasted for almost 90 days, during which the complex suffered maximum damage. It has been shot in two versions— Hindi and sign language, which ASI officials said was meant for the specially-abled visitors.
Shot in high definition and through special lenses, the 11min 13 sec documentary opens with the aerial shots of the sprawling Residency. The story opens right from 1775 AD onwards, when Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daula laid its foundation to accommodate the British. It also highlights the role of Nawab Sadat Ali Khan (1798—1814) during whose tenure the construction was completed.
The film also throws light on the unique architectural style in which the British complexes were constructed. “Complexes here were erected purely in European style that was quite a rarity in the Nawabi era. But the nawabs especially got it constructed by hiring architects from Europe to give a European touch to the complex. It was done as a mark of respect for them. The film has it all,” NK Pathak, superintending archaeologist, who has a major contribution in the documentary, told HT.
A good portion of the documentary, however, is based on ‘Seige of Lucknow’ during which the monument suffered the maximum losses. If the historians are to be believed, during the siege, the monument virtually turned into a graveyard as around 3,000 British soldiers lost their lives. Many of them were buried here.
Pathak said the documentary was also in sign language to help the specially-abled visitors understand the monument and its history. For this purpose, the ASI has taken help of a sign language news anchor of Doordarshan. Other than the story line, the documentary also has some siege time photograph of the Residency, comparing it with that of present times. It will give an idea to the audience how badly the structure was damaged during the Uprising. The documentary has been shot by an Agra-based production house that had also shot a documentary on Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri, which is now being screened in Air India’s Dreamliner. In addition, the ASI is also going to start it’s a fullfledged theatre in the basement of the Residency’s museum building, where the documentaries will be screened.