Six weeks is all it took for noted film-maker Zafar Hai to complete a film celebrating 100 years of The Taj Mahal Hotel. Screened on September 16, 2003 at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, for a select audience, the film traces the hotel’s history and the changes it faced since its inception in 1903.

Born out of Jamsetji N Tata’s dream, the Taj was opened on December 16, 1903. Over the last 100 years, it has witnessed the birth of the Gateway of India, two World Wars, played host to celebrities, participated in India’s struggle for freedom, and served as Mumbai’s most scintillating landmark.

The 50-minute film is based on Sharada Dwivedi and Charles Allen’s research. Actor Roshan Seth writes and narrates with artist Jehangir Sabavala, singer Laura Hamilton, Arvind Singh Mewar, and Siddhi Kumari putting in special appearances. The latter two recreate a banquet scene in this extraordinary film. Glimpses can also be had of Sarojini Naidu, John Barrymore, Rati Jinnah (the daughter of Sir Petit, who later married Mohammad Ali Jinnah), Catherine Courtney who held the first ever fashion show at the Taj, Laura Hamilton who sang with Mickey Correa (who played the clarinet), the famous ballroom dances, the Beatles, Gregory Peck, Pierre Cardin, Margaret Thatcher and Duke Ellington, who played at the ballroom to a full house.

Little known facts like how the pillars in the Taj Ballroom have been taken from the Petit Hall, after it was demolished following Rati Jinnah’s death at the Taj, also enrich the film. There’s also footage of what the Greens Hotel (now the Taj lobby) looked like, of the long bar where gin and tonic were served, of Bobby Taleyerkhan, who was a regular here, and of the old dining hall that was popular with the British soldiers.

Zafar Hai says, “For many of us, the hotel evokes fond memories and deep-rooted feelings. All of us have our special associations with the Taj. My office was located behind it and I’d hold meetings at the Sea Lounge. Then, again, when we started working on the film, we had our meetings at the Sea Lounge. Thus, making this film was a special and uniquely rewarding experience.”

The executive producer of the film, and senior vice-president corporate affairs, Ravi Dubey, explains, “After reading a manuscript tracing the history of the hotel, the idea of making a film took shape. We approached the finest filmmaker, and that’s how the film came about.”