In 1401 AD, Dilawar Khan Ghori created
an independent kingdom called the Malwa
Sultanate, the capital of which was
Mandu, in central India. Hoshang Shah's
tomb, an acknowledged influence for
the designers of the Taj Mahal, the
great mosque of Mandu, the Jain Kalpa
Sutra, the Boostan manuscript and the
Baobab Trees are some of the marvels
seen in this film. But, it is in the
merging of water and landscape with
architecture that the beauty of Mandu's
conception lies. This is explored in
the royal palace complex - the zenana,
the Jal Mahal and the highly innovative
Jahaz Mahal. The Jahaz Mahal's relationship
with the two lakes , its halls and pavillions,
its hava ghars on the roof terrace,
and its two amazing swimming pools,
are shown in detail. The more classical
architecture of the last Sultan Baz
Bahadur's palace, is then delved into
- its lake, swimming pool, courtyards
and typical Mandu pavillion. Baz Bahadur
and Rupmati's tragic love story is also
evoked as we discover Rupmati's pavilion
at sunset.
The images of the buildings are intercut
with sequences associating miniature
paintings and manuscripts with dialogues
and sound effects, meant to evoke the
ambience and life that might have existed
in these places. Classical North Indian
music, Sufi and Jain hymns as well as
Persian classical music have been used
to accompany the images.
AWARDS 1. Certificate
of Honorary Mention : Columbus
Film Festival, Ohio, USA.
2. Prix Information Architecturale
:UNESCO Film Festival on art and
education, Paris.
