Anand Pandit: "We Should Showcase Lesser-known Cultural And Natural Heritage Sites In Cinema"

Lesser-known heritage sites can offer not just historical insights but also add great visual interest to cinema. "Many film aficionados from our generation still remember how Dev Anand romanced Nutan as they climbed the stairs of Qutub Minar in 'Tere Ghar ke Saamne.' They remember Joy Mukherjee singing 'Dil beqaraar sa hai' to Vyjayanthimala ji around historical architectural landmarks. An iconic song in Dilip saab's 'Leader' (1964) was filmed at Taj Mahal. In 'Guide', 'Aaj phir jeene ki tamanaa hai' was shot at the Chittorgarh fort and a few scenes in 'Paheli' (2005), were shot beautifully at Hadi Rani ki Baori in Rajasthan. I miss seeing similar tributes to India's architectural heritage in today's cinema," says well-known producer Anand Pandit.

India, he says, has many unexplored heritage sites including prehistoric rock shelters, rock carvings, forts, stepwells, ancient ruins and a lot more that can be showcased in cinema. As he says, "This will also enrich cinema's visual palette."

He cites the example of the 2009 Telugu epic 'Magadheera', directed by S.S. Rajamouli which was shot in Karnataka's Badami Cave Temples and Mani Ratnam's 'Ponniyin Selvan' franchise which showcased many heritage sites including 'Arikamedu', an archaeological site and ancient Indo-Roman trading port, close to Pondicherry.

"I feel by choosing such locations, cinematic storytelling can gain a lot more gravitas and also visible sites that have gone unacknowledged. These places hold stories waiting to be told and cinema can be the bridge that connects them to the world while also serving as a powerful catalyst for economic revival and sustainable tourism. Moreover, long-term interest from travellers can provide the resources necessary to ensure these sites are maintained for future generations, " concludes Pandit.