Architecture is often seen as the art of building. But in a country as diverse and complex as India, architecture takes on a far greater role—it becomes a chronicle of resilience, ambition, and identity. This is the premise that shapes Five Decades of India’s Built Environment, a documentary presented by the CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence.
Far from being a technical retrospective or a collection of landmark projects, the film approaches architecture as a cultural force—one that has actively shaped how Indians live, how cities breathe, and how communities imagine their future. By tracing the evolution of Indian architecture from the dawn of Independence to the climate-conscious present, the documentary invites viewers to rethink the built environment as both witness and participant in the larger story of a nation finding its voice.
Presented by Arunima Kukreja, Founding Director of the CP Kukreja Foundation, and featuring insights from Dikshu C. Kukreja, Managing Principal at CP Kukreja Architects, the film draws upon rare archival material, expert analysis, and first-hand accounts to weave together a narrative that is at once historical and forward-looking. The disembodied voice guiding the narrative is that of Architect/Archivist, R. Gaur who also directed the film.
The story begins in the shadow of the British Raj, when monumental imperial structures defined the skylines of cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai—imposing symbols of power but alien to local sensibilities. Post-1947, India’s architects were confronted with a dual challenge: to break free from this colonial legacy, and to rapidly build homes, institutions, and infrastructure for a nation rebuilding itself after Partition.
It was an era where architecture became more than design—it became survival. Jawaharlal Nehru’s belief that architecture could help shape society led to the birth of modernism in India, championed by architects like Achyut Kanvinde and Habib Rahman. Their work brought functionalism to the forefront, introducing ideas of simplicity and utility adapted to the Indian climate and context.
As the documentary journeys into the 1970s and 80s, it explores how modernism gradually gave way to a more introspective approach. Architects like B.V. Doshi and Anant Raje began questioning whether international styles could ever fully capture the cultural richness of Indian life. Their work blended modern construction techniques with traditional forms, creating buildings that felt contemporary yet deeply rooted in place. This was also the time when CP Kukreja’s work at Jawaharlal Nehru University redefined campus design, embracing Delhi’s rugged terrain to create a space that felt organic—architecture that didn’t overpower nature, but worked with it.
The 1990s brought liberalization, globalization, and a race to reimagine Indian cities as hubs of global commerce. Curtain walls of glass and steel rose rapidly, signifying ambition but also triggering a debate about identity. In the midst of this, projects like Ambadeep Tower—designed by CP Kukreja—attempted to bridge heritage and modernity, blending Mughal-inspired jaali patterns with the boldness of a high-rise.
Through these shifts, the documentary highlights how architecture mirrored larger national shifts—responding to economic liberalization, embracing global materials and technologies, while still searching for an authentic, indigenous voice.
By the 2000s and 2010s, architecture also found itself answering new questions: how to build sustainably in the face of climate change, how to create humane spaces within rapidly densifying cities, and how to design for a generation that expects innovation without losing touch with cultural memory.
Projects like Pathways World School, a platinum-rated campus nestled in the Aravallis, exemplify this new sensitivity—where ecological design and learning environments come together seamlessly. The school’s central lake, rainwater systems, and open spatial planning reflect an ethos where sustainability is not an add-on, but a guiding principle.
As the film moves into the present day, it confronts the realities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic—how urban design must account for public health, community resilience, and mental well-being. Architects like Anupama Kundoo and Vinu Daniel embody this new ethic, building with reclaimed materials and indigenous techniques to create spaces that heal as much as they house.
What makes Five Decades of India’s Built Environment essential viewing is not just its coverage of projects, but its framing of architecture as a lens through which to understand India itself. Each era, each building, each design decision reveals something deeper about who we were, who we are, and who we hope to become.
For anyone invested in the future of cities, culture, and sustainability, this documentary offers more than architectural insight—it offers a reflection of India’s unfolding story, told through the spaces we inhabit.
The film is available to watch online, presented by the CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence.
LINK | https://youtu.be/VvNOTZfFiVo?si=C8XiWNQbnrPzcqRs
