Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 22 Aug: A discussion on the national award-winning Garhwali film, Dholi, was held at the Doon Library and Research Centre, today. The film’s producer, director and creative team spoke in detail about its story, production journey, social concerns and achievements.
The discussion, organised by the film’s producer and director at the Doon Library and Research Centre, featured producer Sunil Nayak, director Dinesh P Bhonsle, writer Dr Nandkishore Hatwal and art director Atul Vishnoi. Several journalists were also present. The participants shared their experiences and insights into various aspects of the film. A song from the film was also released on the occasion.
Dholi is a 90-minute Garhwali social drama centred on the Dholi community of Uttarakhand. Through the story, the film seeks to portray the community’s life, struggles, social neglect and quest for dignity and respect. During the press interaction, it was stated that the film received a ‘U’ certificate on 31 December 2024 and is expected to be released in cinemas in October 2026.
The film explores the deep religious and cultural significance of the dhol in Uttarakhand. The dhol-damau have traditionally played an important role in festivals, religious ceremonies and other cultural occasions. However, the irony is that the Dholi community that has preserved and carried forward this tradition has historically faced social discrimination and caste-based inequality. Dholi builds its narrative around this striking contradiction.
The film’s central character, Jamandas, belongs to this community. From childhood, he witnesses social discrimination and neglect. Despite these circumstances, he refuses to give up. Inspired by his father’s ideas, he works hard to pursue his art and gradually gains mastery over dhol playing. His talent eventually earns him recognition at both the national and international levels.
A major turning point in the story occurs when the village prepares for a grand celebration marking the golden jubilee of its temple and the festival of Uttarayan. During the preparations, the villagers realise that there is no dhol player available in the village. They therefore need Jamandas. Despite his busy schedule, he returns to the village and trains the people in playing the dhol-damau.
Discussing the social dimension of the film, the speakers said that one of its most important questions is whether society has truly moved beyond its old prejudices. If an art and its artist are indispensable to religious and cultural traditions, do they also receive the social respect they deserve? Dholi raises this question with great sensitivity and speaks of social equality, dignity, respect and human values.
Director Dinesh P Bhonsle shared the film’s production journey and said that understanding Uttarakhand’s culture and the life of the Dholi community had been an important experience for him. For this purpose, he travelled to different parts of the state, studied books and interacted with local people, scholars and experts associated with the region’s culture. He said that preference was also given to artists from Uttarakhand in order to retain the authenticity of the local setting. The principal shooting of the film took place in Nald village of Uttarkashi district.
Writer Dr Nandkishore Hatwal has written the story, songs and Garhwali dialogues of the film. The screenplay has been written by director Dinesh P Bhonsle. Hindi dialogues and story development were handled by Shishir Krishna Sharma. The cinematography is by Abhinav Gandharv, editing by Virendra Gharse and art direction by Dehradun-based Atul Vishnoi. The film has been produced by Sunil Nayak.
Renowned folk singer Narendra Singh Negi has lent his soulful voice to the songs of the film and brought them to life through his distinctive musical style. His songs have further enhanced the emotional depth and impact of the film’s narrative.
The film features Mohit Ghildiyal, Deepa Deopa, Satish Dhoundiyal, Jaspal Rana, Sonia Nautiyal Gairola, Satish Dhaulakhandi, Tanmay Lohani and several other artists from Uttarakhand.
Speaking about the film’s achievements, it was stated that Dholi has been selected for several prestigious film festivals in India and abroad. The film has been screened at platforms including the Kolkata International Film Festival, Jagran Film Festival Dehradun, Indian Film Festival Stuttgart, Germany, and Rainbow International Film Festival London, among others.
The film’s most significant achievement is its recognition at the 72nd National Film Awards. During the discussion, this honour was described as a historic achievement for Garhwali cinema. According to the speakers, in the 43-year journey of Garhwali cinema, this recognition is a matter of pride not only for regional-language cinema but also for Uttarakhand’s folk culture, traditions and folk arts.
A song from the film was also released during the programme. The song reflects Uttarakhand’s folk melodies, the emotional landscape of the mountains and the state’s traditional musical heritage. Those present appreciated the song and expressed hope that, along with the film, it would help audiences connect with the cultural roots of Uttarakhand.
The press interaction at the Doon Library and Research Centre was not merely an occasion to promote a film. It also became an opportunity for a wider dialogue on Uttarakhand’s folk culture, language, music and social life.
