Walled City Tour

No country in the world has so many of these grand protective bastions-- monuments that have withstood the whip-lashes of time...

A city-based producer-director duo is all set to bring to life the grand forts of India

No country in the world has so many of these grand protective bastions– monuments that have withstood the whip-lashes of time,citadels that have served dynasties and held tightly within their walls,stories and secrets of a lost era. In India forts are a heritage,a proof of a rich culture,architecture and art, Vijai Vardhan,an IAS officer waxes eloquent. An ardent student of history,Vardhan has given the voice over for one of DoorDarshan’s most ambitious projects to date: documenting the forts of India in a series called the Forts of India,produced and directed by Chandigarh-based GS Chani and his son Gyandev. “It was Prasar Bharti chief BS Lalli’s idea. He invited us to make the series. Around 20 such themes were given to as many producers across the country,” says GS Chani,as he goes on to give a brief account of their project that took them five years to complete. “It was a discovery of sorts,getting to know our glorious history while exploring some of the greatest forts that we have, he says.

Chani and Vardhan both agree on the fact that there is no comprehensive study or archival material that has documented the forts of India. After extensive research that included scouting the length and breadth of the country and visiting over 150 forts,Chani and Gyandev narrowed on 26 of them,and roped in Dr Pushpesh Pant to work on the content.

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For Gyandev,it was an unforgettable journey through history. “We’ve grown up reading about only the Partition and the Independence with passing references to forts and other monuments. After learning about these forts,one realises how subjective history is,and how things change over time. For instance,Seringapatam Fort of Tipu Sultan has a mere 20 meter long rampart remaining. Everything else is in ruins courtesy the British. Gingee Fort near Puducherry,which finds no mention in history or architecture books on the other hand,is a great fort atop three steep hill. The Fort of Kalinjar is located in an area infested with dacoits and criminals. We had to take security with us to shoot!” recalls Gyandev,who has also given the music for the series.

Their work has left them with several happy memories,from places like the Janzira which was built by the Abyssinian slaves in the middle of the Arabian Sea and is a 40 minute boat ride from Gateway of India in Mumbai to the fort of Roopmati and Baz Bahadur in Mandu. “All of them are defence marvels,living proof of diverse cultures and tradition. The romanticism that envelops these walls is simply palpable,” says Chani. From the delectable cuisine,memorable hospitality to braving adverse conditions and making it to these forts,the duo are now back in town,ready with the series that goes on air in July. “We’re working on a blog and coffee table book too,” says Gyandev.

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