Guwahati: Chalo India With Eric Ji (Varanasi), directed by Assam filmmaker Rajdeep Choudhury, was recently screened at the British Film Institute in London after being officially selected in the Indian Panorama Non-Feature section at the 56th International Film Festival of India.
The documentary is part of a larger travel and cultural anthology featuring Eric Ollerenshaw, a former Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom and former history teacher, whose long-standing interest in India inspired the project.
Rajdeep Choudhury, originally from Silchar and based in London for over 17 years, conceptualised the anthology to explore different regions of India through culture, history and everyday experiences.
The Varanasi episode was filmed during Makar Sankranti and the Maha Kumbh period, capturing the spiritual and cultural atmosphere of the ancient city. The documentary follows Eric Ollerenshaw as he explores the ghats, food culture, narrow lanes and heritage locations including Sarnath.
The screening at BFI NFT2 on May 10 was organised by the Indian High Commission in London in collaboration with the UK Asian Film Festival and Tongues on Fire. The event was attended by members of the Indian diaspora, film enthusiasts and audiences from different backgrounds.
During the programme, the documentary team received the “Heritage Cinema Excellence Award” for its contribution to cultural storytelling through cinema.
The next instalment of the anthology, Chalo India With Eric Ji (Mizoram), will focus on Northeast India and its cultural landscape. The teaser of the upcoming episode was earlier launched by the India Tourism Development Corporation in the presence of Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and ITDC Managing Director Mugdha Sinha.
According to the makers, the long-term vision of the documentary series is to cover all 28 states of India and present lesser-known cultural stories to international audiences through travel-based storytelling.
Rajdeep Choudhury said the project aims to showcase the diversity and cultural richness of India while connecting with audiences across the world.
