The Red Fort or Lal Quila situated in the heart of our capital city has a treasure trove of history attached to it, which is now being showcased through immersive experiences designed by the Dalmia Bharat Limited as a part of the government of India’s ‘Adopt a Heritage Project’ by the ministry of tourism in collaboration with the ministry of culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).As a part of their efforts to highlight this national symbol as a global tourist attraction, Dalmia Bharat has introduced world-class amenities and state-of-the-art light-and-sound shows that make for a one-of-a-kind experience. There are three major attractions at the Red Fort — The Red Fort Visitor Centre, Matrubhumi Projection Mapping and Jai Hind Sound and Light Show, which will make any Indian proud with the engaging storytelling and visual treats.
The Red Fort Centre by Dalmia Bharat has been installed by restoring every brick of an old British barrack inside the Red Fort. The museum has one floor dedicated to the history of nine main locations of Red Fort. One could learn more from this museum about Red Fort than from a history book. An ideal place to take children and make them familiar with the rich cultural history of the country
The Jai Hind Red Fort Sound and Light Show was inaugurated on January 17. This immersive show has been developed by Dalmia Bharat in partnership with Sabhyata Foundation. This show is a dramatic presentation of the history of India from the 17th century to the present day. The show covers all the major events which took place during this time period like the plunder of Red Fort by Nadir Shah, the rise of Marathas and their control of Red Fort, the Revolt of 1857, the rise of the Indian National Army and the INA trials, the fight for Independence and India’s continuous progress over the past 75 years, portrayed through an immersive and multi-sensory experience. The show is a fusion of numerous forms of performance art like advanced light and sound effects, acting, dancing and live-action puppetry, making the show more alive.
Meet Waqt, the narrator of the sound and light show, voiced in Hindi by Amitabh Bachchan who takes the audience on a walkthrough experience by reliving different time periods staged at three main locations of the Red Fort, starting from Naubat Khana.
After Diwan-e-Aam, the audience moves to the lawns of Diwan-e-Khas and watches the show seated for the next 35-40 minutes. In this time period, the audience experiences spell-bounding visuals and sounds, portraying the different struggles the heritage monument went through and the fight for India’s Independence.
This spectacular sequence shows the plunder of the Red Fort by Nadir Shah, which marks the beginning of the monument’s and the Mughal empire’s downfall.
Waqt then takes the audience to the scene of Red Fort’s inauguration in 1948, which is enacted by life-size puppets at the Diwan-e-Aam. The audience also witnesses spectacular Kathak dance performances which portray the celebrations from the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan.
With the 360-degree immersive show at the Red Fort Centre, you get a chance to sit inside an old heritage building and watch the brief introduction of the Red Fort for nine minutes.
The show ends with a victory dance followed by the national anthem sung by Amitabh Bachchan (a goosebump moment). Renowned dancer and choreographer Maitreyee Pahari is the director of the show comprising a troupe of 60 dancers and actors. Indian violinist Sharad Chandra Srivastava has composed the riveting music and soundtracks for the show. Adding to the grandeur are life-size puppets by acclaimed puppeteer Dadi Pudumji.
Launched in July 2022, the Red Fort Centre is housed in a 19th-century restored British barrack inside the Red Fort and provides visitors with a walkthrough of the history of Red Fort before they visit the actual fort. This one-of-a-kind museum includes a 360-degree immersive show, various fun activities for the visitors, a cafeteria and a souvenir shop.
“Jai Hind is the first Sound and Light show ever to showcase live actors and hi-tech projection mapping technology at a heritage site. I invite schools and college students, government departments and tourists from across India to watch this world-class production. The Red Fort Sound and Light Show, Jai Hind, is a dramatic presentation of Indian history and valour. It brings to life key episodes from India’s history,” said Puneet Dalmia, managing director, Dalmia Bharat.