At the 72nd National Film Awards announced just a couple of days ago, it became the first-ever Garhwali film to win the Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) for Best Garhwali Film. For the hills of Uttarakhand, this is huge – like a dream come true for so many local artists and storytellers.
The film is about something very close to home. It follows a family of traditional dhol players – those folks whose drum beats fill the air at weddings, festivals, and temple ceremonies across Garhwal. Everyone loves the sound, right? It brings joy and energy. But the players themselves? They often don’t get the respect or dignity they deserve. Dholi tells the story of a young boy who watches his father struggle with this, and then decides to chase bigger dreams with his talent. He works hard, finds success beyond the village, and eventually returns to change how people see these artists. It’s not just about one family – it’s about honoring the people who keep our traditions alive.
What makes it even better is how real the film feels. They shot the whole thing in September 2023 in the beautiful Asiganga Valley of Uttarkashi – places like Nald village and around there. The mountains, villages, local faces, traditional clothes, and dialect – everything comes from the heart. Legendary Garhwali singer Narendra Singh Negi gave his voice to the music, and that just adds so much soul to it. A mix of local talent and dedicated crew from different places came together under director Dinesh P. Bhonsle and producer Sunil Nayak to make this happen.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was quick to congratulate the team. He said this award is a proud tribute to Uttarakhand’s folk culture, language, and heritage. It’s inspiring for young artists and shows that Garhwali cinema is ready to shine on the national stage. He also mentioned how the state’s new film policy is helping create more opportunities like this – with subsidies, easier permissions, and support for local stories. That policy is a game-changer, especially for regional films, offering up to 50% back on spending to help projects like Dholi come to life.
This win isn’t just about one movie. It feels like a door opening for everyone in the hills who has a story to tell. For years, Garhwali films have been quietly working in the background. Now, with national recognition, more people are going to pay attention. Dholi also screened at the Kolkata International Film Festival earlier, so the journey was already building.
We keep thinking about those dhol players in villages – how their rhythm has been part of life for generations. This film gives them a voice, and the award says that voice matters.
If all get the chance to watch Dholi, please do. You’ll feel the hills, hear the culture, and maybe even pick up a drumbeat or two in your heart. Congratulations to the entire team – from the actors and technicians to the villages that welcomed the shoot. Uttarakhand is celebrating, and honestly, we all should be.
This is what makes Indian cinema beautiful – the big and the small, the loud and the quiet, all finding their place. Here’s to more stories from Devbhoomi reaching far and wide.
Sources:
Dainik Bhaskar, Jagran, The Print, official National Film Awards announcements, and Uttarakhand government statements.
@Rohit Manral
