• Territories:

    Worldwide.

  • Production year:

    2017

  • Language(s):

    German, English, French

  • Rights:

    TV, DVD, NON-THEATRICAL, INTERNET, VOD

More than 10.000 palaces spread over 73 villages… the Chettinad region is chock full of architectural treasures. But today those treasures are becoming ruins.

In the state of Tamil Nadu, the Chettinad region holds an exceptional heritage: thousands of palaces built by the Chettiars – a community that made a fortune in commerce during the 19th and start of the 20th centuries in South-East Asia. Their sumptuous architecture mixes Oriental and Occidental influences.
Nowadays most of the palaces are decrepit. The owners do not have the means nor will to protect this heritage. As a result 20% of the palaces have been destroyed so far, to the local antique dealers’ joy. They recover the china, panes, doors and granite pillars.
A few strangers and local families’ successors are trying to keep the Chettinad’s heritage intact and restore what has been damaged. They also try to alert the heirs to the endangered palaces’ actual asset value.