Lutyens’ New Delhi | Mandu

Lutyen’s New Delhi
30 minutes | English | 1997 | India

How do cities shape identity, memory, and the psychological pulse of public life?
In 1911, the British set out to build a capital that would project Western power onto Indian soil—“the Rome of Hindustan.” This award-winning film traces how New Delhi emerged from that ambition, blending imperial design with Indian elements to form the heart of today’s Republic. This film has received the Prix Archives Ethniques award at UNESCO Film Festival on art and education, Paris, France.

Mandu, The City of Joy
31 minutes | English | 1996 | India

Capturing the heartbeat of history in the spaces we inhabit, this film is a gentle, unforgettable journey.
Created in 1401, Mandu embodies the composite Hindu–Muslim culture of North India: where Islamic domes meet Hindu brackets, and the liberal spirit of the era shines through Jain Kalpa Sutras and exquisite miniatures. This film explores Mandu’s unique harmony: water, landscape, and architecture flowing together in a breathtaking whole. With commentary, character dialogues, and paintings that evoke palace life. Set to classical North Indian, Sufi, Jain, and Persian music, it offers a richly textured experience. 

These two cinematic meditations on architecture, identity, and belonging by Manu Rewal explore how spaces carry memory, aspiration, and transformation. The screenings will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.