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A series of films named Purva Uttara (Past Forward), available in two DVDs, tells the stories hidden in boulders and cliffs turned into timeless works of art.

Conceptualised by art historian Vidya Dehejia and directed by Shyam Benegal and Zafar Hai, eight short films (“Mamallapuram: A Riddle in the Sands”, “Vijayanagara: Where Kings and Gods Meet”; “Sanchi: Monument of the People”; “Konark: Chariot of the Sun”; “Visions of Paradise: The Taj Mahal”; “Rome of the Tropics: Goa”; “A world apart: Princely Mewar” and “Immortal Capital: The Many Cities of Delhi”) present events and forces that shaped these towns and cities that are today icons of India’s architectural and cultural heritage.

Each lasting 23-and-a-half minutes, these films have been made with filmmaking techniques that sustain a viewer’s interest.

In association with Oxford Bookstore, Marg Publications recently screened the films on Mamallapuram and Vijayanagara (both directed and narrated by Benegal), for a select audience.

The screening followed the launch of the DVDs by Chitra Madhavan, an academician specialising in historical monuments. “Vijayanagara: Where Kings and Gods Meet” is about the remains of a glorious ancient city that still hold great significance for a whole lot of people.

Pilgrims “do the rounds of these sacred sites” along the river Tunghabhadra.

The film shows why it attracted the name ‘Kishkinta’ or the monkey kingdom.

It is believed to be Hanuman’s place and frequent appearances of his images on boulders support this view.

The fact that the rulers of Vijayanagara identified themselves with lord Rama, and the legends about how the monkey kingdom rallied behind Rama during his darkest hour, justify the title. The film explains how the rulers of Vijayanagara met their obligations which included “founding temples”.

The city improved vastly during the sixteenth century when Krishnadevaraya was ruler.

The best of his contributions was the mandapa with its painted ceiling. Vijayanagara, “the city of victory”, was left in ruins in 1565 following a military disaster.

While Vijayanagara was completed but destroyed, Mamallapuram is not a completed town, but has stayed intact.

The film about Mamallapuram speculates on the works left incomplete.

Mahendra Varman, the Pallava king from the seventh century, commissioned the town.

He has left his mark on the stones in the form of musical notations that are four-and-a-half metre wide and one metre long.

Apart from its attempt to represent the supernatural, Mamallapuram aided the Pallavas’ trade and expansionist ambitions.

During the time of Narasimhavarman, son of Mahendravarman, it was a thriving harbour for military and trade fleets.

Narasimhavarman was nicknamed Mamalla because he was a great wrestler and warrior.

It is believed that he named this coastal town after himself.

The film discusses, among other things, why Mamallapuram is a landmark in South Indian architecture.

It marked the beginning of the ‘rock-cut’ technique in southern temple architecture. The DVDs are available at Oxford Bookstores.

For more details, log on to marg-art.org.

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