A colonial legacy inherited from the British, this ceremony ‘Beating the Retreat’ formally closes the Republic Day celebrations on the 29th of January each year. Originally a military ceremony dating back to 16th century England, Beating the Retreat was first used in order to recall nearby patrolling units to their castle. Held at the Vijay Chowk, in the background of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, this ceremony has the capacity to evoke a great nationalist pride amongst listeners and audiences. The film explores the music of Beating the Retreat. Exploring its historical emergence, locating quotes from Vedic times on martial music, the film presents the myriad bands and their rigourous training to prepare them to perform during ‘Beating the Retreat’.
