After SUBHERU GHAM- BATHAUN 2, Pyre” (Chita), Vinod Kapri’s New Film, to Premiere at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
The issue of massive migration from Uttarakhand villages to the state’s capital, national capital, various metropolises of the country and states in view of the lack of basic amenities like employment, health avenues and better education have led to thousands of villages becoming vacant with three thousand and more villages having become ghost villages and locks in over five lakh houses according to a conservative estimate.
The situation in Uttarakhand is so critical that pregnant women are dying on the way or delivering babies while being carried on make shift palanquins due lack of roads or well equipped hospitals/ health centres in nearby locations.
There are hundreds of instances of old patients with illness being carried on temporary make shift arrangements with several people carrying the patient turn by turn to hospitals covering several kilometres in foot climbing and coming down of the hills.
There are hundreds of villages of Uttarakhand where very few people are living and most of them the senior citizens completely helpless devoid of money and essential commodities with no one else to come to their rescue not even a man left to light their pyre. An emotional movie titled “SUBHERU GHAM Bathaun 2” produced and directed by Mumbai based filmaker Urmi Negi has rightly depicted the genuine woes of village women dying at the old age in pathetic condition with no one looking after them.
The film shows how gradually the once lively village converts into a ghost village with a single old aged woman left helplessly passionately waiting for her son and others to return to old hectic days of her village with cheerful faces.
The situation of tremendous exodus to plains in search of jobs, health avenues n good education for their children have reached to such an extent that now this has become a significant issue compelling filmmakers to bring forth the genuine plight of Uttarakhand villages and its inhabitants who have witnessed around 35 lakh Uttarakhandies leaving their villages enabling the man-eaters ( leopards), wild pigs, monkeys entering the dilapidated houses and spoiling the agricultural lands and the crops. This exodus was during the last 25 years after the state came into separate existence.
As a sequel to this, the ongoing issue of massive migration and subsequent plight of those left behind in the completely tormented villages especially the old ones , in some villages even a single woman with no one left even to light their self made Pyre another brilliant filmaker Vinod Kapri have come out with his outstanding movie “PYRE” being lauded everywhere. “Pyre ” meaning ” CHITA” in Hindi is an outstanding movie by Vinod Kapri which will be premiered at prestigious Tallinn Black Nights Film festival. This will be the Worldwide premier in Europe’s prestigious film festival.
The film is based on the most heart wrenching story of two octogenarian (80 years old) husband and wife leading a difficult and a complex life for years together finally becoming lonely and leaving for their eternal journey at a self created PYRE in their own house compound lying on it thinking that someone will finally come to light it ( The Pire) in their abandoned village.
The script of the film is based of a real story inspired by the lives of Padam Singh and Heera Devi residents of Badrinath Tehsil in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
Padam Singh, a retired Indian Army soldier, engages in farming throughout his life till he turns 80 , while Hira Devi takes care of their home, raises buffaloes, and collects firewood and grass from the forest, this being her daily routine since the day she had arrived in her “Sasural” ( village) as a young beautiful bride. “Pyre” is an extraordinary and unbelievable love story of two 80-year-old individuals, Padam Singh and Hira Devi, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Uttarakhand’s Himalayas.
This poignant film explores themes of love, isolation, and the struggles of life’s final stages. The film boasts an acclaimed crew: Music by Oscar-winning composer Michael Danna (Life of Pi, 2012). Editing by German editor Patricia Rommel (The Lives of Others, 2006). Lyrics by renowned poet and songwriter Gulzar (Jai Ho).
Conclusively “Pyre” tells the story of an abandoned village in Uttarakhand, where the last two remaining residents, an elderly couple, decide to end their lives by lying on their own pyre, hoping someone will eventually light it.
It may be recalled that Vinod Kapri is an Indian filmmaker, writer, and journalist, known for his impactful and thought-provoking documentaries and feature films. Kapri started his career as a journalist, working with prominent news organizations like Zee News, NDTV, and India TV. He has directed several acclaimed documentaries, including “Can’t Take This Shit Anymore” (2012) and “Unraveling the Threads” (2014).
Feature filmmaker Kapri made his feature film debut with “Miss Tanakpur Haazir Ho” (2015), a satirical comedy-drama which was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Pihu” (2017) – Thriller-drama feature film, premiered at the International Film Festival of India and Pyre” (Chita) (2022) – Feature film, premiered at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. He is credited for being a recipient of prestigious best director Nation Film fare award for children’s film PIHU and Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director for “Miss Tanakpur Haazir Ho” in (2016).
