Uttarakhand is known for its natural beauty, costumes, and traditions. Today, Uttarakhand’s Garhwali cinema has gained national recognition. Uttarakhand’s most famous and historic film, Jagwal, was the first feature film made in the Garhwali language in 1983. It was directed and produced by Parashar Gaur. This film won the hearts of audiences by portraying family drama, mountain culture, and social problems. In addition, it has produced several other superhit films, including Kauthig (1987), Gharjavai (1998), and Subero Ki Dhaap (2007). Uttarakhand cinema is primarily based on real-life mountain situations, such as the migration of young people to cities for employment, the local people’s attachment to the Himalayan forests, rivers, and mountains, and the use of musical instruments such as the Dhol Damo and Hudka.
Recently, Uttarakhand’s Garhwali cinema has received national recognition. The Garhwali film “Dholi” was awarded the Silver Lotus Award for Best Garhwali Film in the Feature Film category and a cash prize of ₹200,000 at the 72nd National Film Awards. Winning this award has created history. This is a major milestone in Uttarakhandi cinema’s history. The film was cleared by the Censor Board in 2014, but recently, on July 18, 2016, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, declared it the Best Garhwali Film at the National Film Awards. Directed by Deepak P. Bhosale, the film depicts the story of senior litterateur Dr. Nandkishore Hatwal. Its music is composed by folk singer Narendra Singh Negi, and the cast includes Mohit Ghildial, Deepa Deupa, Ramesh Nautiyal, Satish Dholakhandi, and Sonia Gairola.
The 85-minute film depicts the social struggle and self-respect of the “Aujis,” or “Dholis.” Through a letter titled Jamandas, it exposes society’s dual attitude towards the drummer Kal. The film was shot in Naland village, Uttarkashi. This historic success is being considered a triumph of the state’s culture and the hard work of local artists.Congratulating the entire film team on this significant achievement, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described it as a national honor for Uttarakhand’s folk language, culture, and cultural heritage.Chief Minister Dhami also stated that this honor for Dholi is inspiring for the state’s film industry, artists, and creators.
It will give Garhwali cinema a new identity at the national level and encourage the production of regional films. He congratulated the film’s producer, Pharmochem Private Limited, director Deepak P. Bhosale, and the entire team, saying that regional boundaries play an important role in promoting Uttarakhand’s folk culture, traditions, and lifestyles across the country and the world. Such efforts also provide a platform for local talent to strengthen the state’s cultural identity.During this, he expressed confidence that the success of Dholi will give new impetus to the production of quality regional films in the state and the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand will gain more recognition at the national and international level.