Walkabout Films in collaboration with the Walled City of Lahore Authority will begin filming an eight-to-10 minute documentary on the heritage and cultural activities in the Walled City from September 13.
The documentary will be filmed at the Delhi Gate, with emphasis on the Shahi Hammam, the Wazir Khan Mosque; Gali Surjan Singh, Muhammadi Mohallah, Hookay Wali Gali, Katra Neem Wala, Sabeel Wali Gali, Katra Jawala Singh, Phulon Wali Gali and Gali Mian Sultan. It will also feature the Begum Shahi Mosque, the Niveen Masjid, the Sunehri Masjid, Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das Ji and Gurdwara Guru Arjun Singh.
The documentary will highlight the state of disrepair of several havelis including the Lal Haveli, Haveli Raja Dhayan Singh, Haveli Bejnath, and the Haveli Chuna Mandi.
The target audience for the documentary are donors, tourists and residents of the Walled City.
“The Walled City is of great cultural and historical significance. Its architectural wonders take you back in time,” Walkabout Films CEO Nisar Malik says, “But this heritage is under threat and in need of immediate attention.
We have undertaken this massive responsibility to produce a thoughtful documentary that will depict the true image of a vibrant Walled City.”
WCLA communications expert Tania Qureshi says, “The documentary aims to showcase Lahore’s rich cultural and historical heritage and highlight the need to revive the beauty of the Walled City.”
Qureshi says that she hopes that the documentary would infuse new hope into the city and inculcate a sense of ownership and pride among its residents.
WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari says that they hope to portray the culture and heritage of the Walled City in order to preserve it.
“A documentary is the best way to do that,” he says, “It will help us promote the Lahore Walled City Development Project, which aims to restore the Walled City into a culturally cohesive, environment safe and thriving locality of the metropolitan.”
The WCLA will provide the documentary makers with maps, drawings, photographs, mosaics, logos, plans, reports, recommendations and estimates, regarding the project. It will also arrange for no objection certificates, permissions and security for the Walkabout crew.
Walkabout Films is an Islamabad-based documentary and film production company.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2013.