“This is India: Delhi Old and New” (c.1951) is a color travelog film by Franklin Sahu Productions. Sponsored by Brooke Bond, the film is an episode one of a larger series called “Around the World Colour Series.” Ian Newland narrates over footage of, as the name suggests, sites and architectural wonders around Delhi, India as well as the 1st Republic Day Celebration on Kartavya Path. The film also includes some footage of India’s first president, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

Opening credits, title overlaid map of India (0:08). Agra Fortress built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan III in 1648 – goats graze on fields nearby, men walk carrying merchandise on heads (0:52). Stone Elephants on either side of famous Delhi Gate – entrants to Red Fort (Agra Fort) (1:30). View out of window looking down at inner courtyard of fort, tour continues around grounds of royal fortress, elaborate designed area where Peacock Throne formerly stood, group of Indian tourists – women in colorful saris walk through the gardens (1:35). View of Jama Masjid seen in distance (2:35). Worshipers gather at mosque for Friday “Juma” prayer (2:58). Women dressed in white chador at bazaar (3:18). Montage beggars seeking help around mosque grounds (3:27). Tuk tuk, city bus drive by in front of Kashmir Gate – dividing point between Delhi and New Delhi (3:35). India Gate designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens 1920, epitaph to men who fell in World War I (3:43). Statue of King George V under Netaji Canopy (4:06). Rajpath and other parts of the Central Vista Avenue in New Delhi, view down Rajpath “King’s Path” towards Rashtrapati Bhavan federal government building (4:11). Exterior India’s iconic circular Parliament Building (4:36). Iron gate in front of Rashtrapati Bhavan – President’s House, gate features star of India (4:47). Mughal Gardens (5:34). Connaught Place Delhi main shopping center (6:42). Aerial view of wedding procession on streets, band plays brass instruments as car decorated with marigolds drives slowly besides them (7:08). Entrance to Hotel Imperial, Art-deco style building (7:17). Details of Jantar Mantar, the Observatory in New Delhi built in 1710 by Maharaja Jai Singh – sundials, hollow spheres, calculations etched into walls (7:29). View from top of stairs of observatory grounds (8:18). Hindu Temples: Laxminarayan Temple (Birla Mandir) (8:24). Grounds of temple – elephant gods statues, fountains (8:48). Exterior modern red and white facade All India Radio building (9:06). Qutb Minar (sandstone tower), part of Qutb complex, which lies at the site of Delhi’s oldest fortified city, Lal Kot, founded by the Tomar Rajputs (9:20). Iron Pillar in grounds of Qutb complex, tourists wrap arms around pillar as part of luck ritual (9:55). Aerial view of Qutb complex grounds, Alai Minar (10:18). Close-up of sandstone of Qutb Minar – carvings depict messages from Quran (10:50). Families picnicking on complex grounds (11:10). Humayun’s Tomb, built 1565 as first of big Moghul tombs (11:20). Safdarjung Tomb (11:36). Purana Qila old fortress built by Sher Shah (11:49). Tughlaqabad Fort, close-up of Mughal-style dome topped with Hindu symbol (12:08). Celebratory parade commemorating India becoming a republic within the British Commonwealth, The President’s Bodyguard 200 cavalry men in red suits, turbans escort President on horseback down King’s Way from President’s House to India Gate (13:02). Brass band plays national anthem, infantrymen fire 31-gun salute to India’s first president, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Defense minister V. K. Krishna Menon – procession continues led by mounted band, part of Jaipur State Cavalry, Bikaner Camel Corps (14:26). Aerial view of procession (15:12). Sikh Regiment, Gorkha Regiments, Madras Regiment (Travancore), young cadet corps, and territorial army, home guards march in parade; Indian Navy and police at the rear (15:28). Drummers ride on elephant, Tibetan horns, other musicians on various floats – depicting first great epic of India Rama and Sita, Lord Krishna, Buddha, Ahsoka, Shah Jahan, Akbar the Great among others (16:37). Procession ends, King returns to palace and greets distinguished guests at reception (18:38). Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru among other guests (19:30). Birla House – sight of Gandhi assassination; visitors lay marigold flowers on grave to pay respects (19:46).

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com