Nawab Jafar Mir Abdullah on Lucknow's Neglected Monuments and Film Shoots
Lucknow is full of Nawabi-era buildings, but many of them, away from the tourist circuit, are in poor shape. In the last part of a 2021 VoxyTalksy series, Nawab Jafar Mir Abdullah, a descendant of Awadh's nobility who has also acted in films, spoke about the city's forgotten monuments and its growing role as a shooting location.
What the video shows
The video was uploaded on April 6, 2021, as the final part of a series of conversations with Nawab Jafar Mir Abdullah. He begins with a story from Nawabi times: when Holi and the tenth day of Muharram fell together, he says, a Nawab returning from Karbala let people apply gulal to him and joined their celebration. He then says Lucknow has about 60 protected historical buildings, many of them poorly maintained, and argues that the Archaeological Survey of India has more funds and technical staff to look after them. He speaks about Musa Bagh, which he describes as a summer retreat built by the Nawabs beside the river and now in a bad state, and appeals to people and the government to save the city's heritage. He also talks about his film roles, including playing the Governor of Uttar Pradesh in the 2021 film Madam Chief Minister, and says the state's planned film city should ideally have been centred in Lucknow rather than near Noida.
Musa Bagh and other lesser-known sites
Musa Bagh, on the western edge of Lucknow, is a ruined Nawabi garden palace. A popular account says the place was once called "Monsieur Bagh", which was later shortened in everyday speech to Musa Bagh. Accounts differ on exactly who built it and when, so visitors should treat local stories as tradition. Sites like this are less visited than the Bara Imambara or the Residency, which is why their upkeep often depends on public attention.
Who protects Lucknow's monuments?
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) looks after centrally protected monuments through its Lucknow Circle.
- The Uttar Pradesh State Archaeology Department protects other sites declared under state law.
- Many smaller buildings, including some Nawabi-era structures, are not protected at all and are vulnerable to encroachment and decay.
The figure of about 60 protected buildings is the guest's own estimate; official lists from the ASI and the state department give the exact current numbers.
Lucknow on screen
Lucknow's old lanes, havelis and Nawabi buildings have made it a popular location for films and web series, helped by Uttar Pradesh's film policy and subsidies for shooting in the state. For local residents, this has meant small roles, work for crews and wider exposure for the city's heritage.
What readers can do
- Visit lesser-known monuments respectfully and avoid graffiti or litter.
- Report damage or encroachment at a protected monument to the ASI Lucknow Circle or the state archaeology department.
- Support heritage walks and local historians who document these places before they disappear.
