Scaling the icy slopes of Mount Shivling, a trek that requires approximately 25 days, starts in the quaint mountain town of Gangotri. Adventurers traverse through the verdant forests at Tapovan before braving the arduous ascent of the mountain – an endeavor that’s both a stepping stone for aspiring Mount Everest climbers and a sacred pilgrimage for those searching for spiritual solace. Mount Shivling, standing tall at 6,543 metres, proves to be a formidable yet special climb.
Capturing one such awe-inspiring ascent is the short film “Ganga — Daughter of the Himalayas,” directed by Bharat Bala, through which the viewers are drawn into the poignant tale of Devyani Semwal, a dauntless mountaineer hailing from the small village of Mukhba, nestled in the shadows of Gangotri. When Devyani gazes upon the reflection of Mount Shivling mirrored in the water’s surface, we, the audience, share her transcendental experience. The film’s breathtaking visuals trace her determined climb skyward, mirroring her ambition to eventually conquer Mount Everest.
The short film, which unfolds in a mere eight minutes and 17 seconds, manages to introduce the audience to two determined females — Devyani and the Ganges River itself, both emblematic of persistence and resolve, with long journeys ahead to reach their ultimate destinations.
Bharat Bala doesn’t just tell Devyani’s story; he incites a community’s pride. As Bala remarks, “Devyani has gotten all of Mukhba excited. You should see the way the locals have accepted and embraced the story. There is a sense of pride and belonging.”
“The trailer of this film was released in 30 cinema halls in Uttarakhand — on the big screen,” the filmmaker comments, mentioning that Devyani feels a deep sense of respect for her dedication.
In this film series dedicated to Uttarakhand, Bala weaves narratives around diverse subjects such as the hill women of Almora, the resurrected forests of Jabarkhet, the nomadic Van Gujjars, and the ancient tradition of Bahi – a 700-year-old system of recordkeeping.
This is but the beginning of Bharat Bala’s much larger endeavor – creating 1,000 short films to study and document the rich cultural tapestry of India. The project undertaken by Virtual Bharat, in collaboration with the Rural India Supporting Trust (RIST), is expected to unravel over the next five years.
Bharat Bala envisions these films as immersive experiences that transport the audience into the very heart of human stories. He aims for timeless appeal, stating, “Cataloguing these stories should ensure that the ideas and appeal remain timeless. The emotion it elicits should be the same as the first time one sees it.” Therefore, he dedicates himself to crafting the highest quality cinematic experience for each short, treating them with as much care as one would a feature film.
Every film retains its original language to preserve the authenticity of sound and culture. “All films are in their original language for the preservation of their sound and culture,” Bala adds, emphasizing the importance of linguistic diversity.
Bala shares insights into the resonance of stories like that of Bahi, where the continuity of lineage is explored through handwritten scrolls. It is here that one can witness the emotional labor as a woman comes to the Ganga’s banks, seeking her ancestry and connections with the past.
Among the credits on the poster of Ganga — Daughter of the Himalayas, one will discover the names of sherpas who supported the team throughout the filming journey – a tribute to their invaluable assistance during the unforeseen challenges they encountered along the way.
Despite the filmmaker’s vision of capturing an immutable India, the reality of climate change looms, illustrated by the melting Gaumukh glacier imposingly captured in the film. And while rivers may alter their courses, the stories they have carried throughout time persist in their telling.
The collection of short films by Bharat Bala is available for viewing on Virtual Bharat’s YouTube channel, offering a cinematic window to the soul of India – a nation as eternal as the tales it tells.
