Charminar a rage among youth for TikTok videos

Hyderabad: The historic Charminar has turned into a hotspot for people to shoot videos and upload it on TikTok. As soon as the government announced unlock 1.0, the regular contributors and others rushed to Charminar and its surroundings and converted it into a hub for making TikTok videos.

Although there is no prohibition for photo and video shoots near Charminar, but now it has become a centre point for TikTokers. There are no fixed timingsfor shooting videos, Tiktokers are seen in day or night hours making videos as per the script to entertain people. The main reason for the video shooters to rush is the deserted wear dur to pandemic.

Earlier, the same area used to teem with street vendors, push carts and tourists leaving no space to walk also.However, once the lockdown was imposed, all vendors and push carts were removed by officials. Not one or two, but several groups are making videos around all the four sides of Charminar.

Right from early morning to late night hours, the youngsters are seen making videos. Shooting even a small scene is similar to making a movie as it involves actors, script and props like chairs, tables, cars etc.Later, this video is uploaded on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, twitter, Instagram and others.

They use hashtags Hyderabad, Hyderabadi, Hyderabadi_Nawabs, Charminar etc. and post hundreds of videos on social media.

According to a shopkeeper, from early morning a huge crowd of youngsters, including women, visit Charminar for making videos. "These youth request us to take chairs and table for using as prop to make videos. As there is no business here, we are getting entertained by watching these people who are making videos," said Mohammed Salman, a worker at a Hotel near Charminar.

The huge crowd gathered for making videos are ensuring that social distancing is maintained, and they are also urging others to follow the same. Most of the content being shot is

based on Bollywood songs, Hyderabadi (Deccanwood) movies, and anti-hero characters played by Sanjay Duttin Vastav, Vivek Oberoi in Shootout at Lokhandwala, Salman Khan as Radhe in Wanted .

A young TikToker who was making a video near Charminar, said "Earlier,free space was a constraint to take up shooting at the heritage structure as it was always crowded. Now due to Covid pandemic with no visitors and a majority of shops closed, it has given us an opportunity to make video content in a short duration and leave the area," he added.

While asking about reason for shooting here, he said that it's the 'Charminar' a world famous monument and symbol of Hyderabad and added "ye humara Charminar haiaurhumarasheherhai" (this is our Charminar and our city).