The Taj Mahal and its origins may have been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons recently but Shiraz, a silent cinema classic, brings the romance back.
The 1928 movie, made by German filmmaker Franz Osten and produced by Himansu Rai, who also acts in it along with Seeta Devi and Emil Schunemann, has been given a new lease of life through a multicultural restoration effort.
The film, set against the backdrop of events leading to the construction of the 17th century monument of love built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, is believed to be one of the finest examples of how talents from outside India contributed to Indian cinema in its nascent stage.
The movie, which is now slated to be screened in Hyderabad on November 1, Kolkata on November 3, New Delhi on November 4 and Mumbai on November 5, was restored by BFI London.
It took technicians 18 months to restore the 1-hour-47- minute-long film from its only surviving reel that made its way to London's National Archives in 1942.
"We, at BFI, had known about the film for many years. In fact, the original negative of Shiraz came to the National Archives way back in 1942. Given how few silent films made in India survived, it felt like the perfect film for us to bring back," Robin Baker, head curator, BFI, said in a press conference at the British Council today.
Sitar player Anoushka Shankar, who was roped in to give music for the film, said it was a daunting task.
"This score I've made for Shiraz is probably the hardest thing I've ever done... It has really been rewarding. I have seen Shiraz in its unrestored form, so I have seen the journey of the film. It was a moving experience to see these epic scenes of grandeur and glory on the big screen," she said.
This is Shankar's first movie as a composer and the musician said it taught her how music plays a significant role in cinema.
"I learnt how important music is to films. There's something about watching the films without music... That there's nothing to engage with. I hope I have done well, I tried to do it to the best of my ability," she added.
Rais scale of ambition is visible in the film, which was shot on location with a cast of thousands.
Shiraz: a Romance of India is a romanticised version of events leading up to the construction of the historic monument, which is currently in news with fringe groups in India claiming it to be a Shiv temple.
Last week, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath visited the Taj Mahal in a much publicised event.
When asked about the ongoing controversy, Anoushka said: "I feel like some people feel like they need to put something else down in order for what they are to look good enough. You can apply that to people also and to organisations and religion...
"Diversity is important, its what makes our culture rich. And so to celebrate that and not quarrelling over mine is better, no, mine is better. Whats that going to do?"
Rai plays the title character of Shiraz, son of a village potter who rescues a baby girl from an ambush. The girl, Selima is of royal descent. As they grow up, Shiraz falls in love with Selima, who is kidnapped and sold to Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan). Shiraz follows her to Agra and devotes himself to protecting her, even at the cost of his life.
It is the second of the three silent films, made on location in India, that Osten and Rai collaborated on after Light of Asia (Prem Sanyas) in 1926 and 1929s A Throw of Dice (Prapanch Pash).
"What I love about this film is that it brings together the best of filmmaking talent in India and the UK in the late 1920s, a cultural collaboration way back 90 years ago. People will be surprised to see amazing the storytelling is. Its thrilling, its also deeply romantic," Baker said.
He said though the movie was made in the English, German and probably one or more Indian language, they discovered the only version to have survived in the world was the English one at the BFI.
Dominic Anthony Gerard Asquith KCMG, British High Commissioner to India said the restoration is "a great example of technology, mastery and creativity".
"When prime minister Modi came to the UK, he talked about creating a living bridge between our two countries. We, in the UK, turned it into a multilayered bridge of people, technology and ideas."
The initiative has been undertaken by the British Council as a part of the UK/India 2017 Year of Culture.
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