An imperfect democracy

Dipankar Sarkar

To err is human but learning a lesson from our mistakes and an attempt to rectify these requires courage. A similar theme runs at the core of Praveen Morchhale’s National Award-winning Ladakhi feature film, Walking With The Wind (2017). The film bagged three National Awards under the category of Best Film (Ladakhi), Best Sound Design (Sanal George) and Best Re-Recording (Justin K Jose) at the 65th National Awards. The film narrates the story of 10-year-old Tsering, played by Sonam Wangyal, who accidentally breaks his classmate’s chair and takes it back with him to repair it secretly. The broken chair serves as a metaphor for a broken relationship, a not-so-perfect democracy or just a social burden. It further represents a spiritual journey, awakening our social conscience and desire to live a better life. The film has been shot with non-actors and locals.

Set in Ladakh, the 79-minute-long film portrays the details of the landscape as well as the daily toils of the locals to survive the harsh climate. The cinematographer, Mohammad Reza Jahanpanah who hails from Iran, has captured well beauty of the Himalayan landscape. Interspersed with visual design of an uneven landscape, desert, covering most of the frames, the film incorporates the minimal use of dialogue. The unyielding setting breathes life as Tsering crosses it with his chair, with or without his donkey.

Keeping aside the touristy aspect of the region, the film is a comment on the social aspect of the region. The villagers survive without modern technical intrusions like television, internet or mobile phones. So, when an old man brings an old radio to the village square, he is eyed with suspicion. The scene appears comical but it also makes a comment on the insular surroundings of village life. In another scene, one finds a Japanese tourist, who needs to make an urgent call. She is unable to get a telephone signal anywhere. Finding no other alternative, she climbs a hill to talk.

The first public screening of the film was held at the Mumbai Film Festival in October 2017. The same year the film also participated at the Sao Paulo International Film Festival in Brazil and Camerimage, Poland. It was also screened at the Fribourg International Film Festival in March this year.

Born in Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh, Praveen is a postgraduate in management from the Institute of Rural Management, Indore. His cinematic experience takes inspiration from stories of everyday life as well as his microscopic observation of the society. His first feature film Barefoot to Goa (2013) was a self-funded project. For this film, he found a producer, Mahesh Mohan, a businessman and a passionate cinema lover, who gave the filmmaker and his team full creative freedom. Presently, the producer is working on its release and distribution. Morchhale is optimistic. He said, “Who can imagine that a small Ladakhi film can win three National Awards in a competition which has many mega budget films.”