Local director Harish Sharma to have three projects at 11th Dehradun International Film Festival
Dehradun: Filmmaker Harish Sharma will have three of his directorial works screened at the 11th Dehradun International Film Festival, organisers said, marking a notable presence for a single director at the Uttarakhand event.
The selections comprise two documentaries, Adi Kailash and Brazil in Banaras: A Bhairab Dutt Story, along with Sharma's debut music video, Logon Mein Prem Hoga. The projects, while varied in subject and treatment, are described in festival material as sharing themes of faith, human transformation, love and hope.
- Adi Kailash — a documentary produced by Sandeep Jha that explores the spiritual landscape of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand.
- Brazil in Banaras: A Bhairab Dutt Story — produced by YouTuber Deepak Pareek, this film charts the life of Bhairab Dutt, a Pithoragarh-born footballer who later worked with underprivileged children in Banaras.
- Logon Mein Prem Hoga — the director's first music video, selected alongside the two documentaries.
According to the programme notes, Adi Kailash draws inspiration from the book
"Ajpathon Se Himshikharon Tak"by Dr Lalit Pant, which has been honoured with the Uttarakhand Government's Sahitya Gaurav Samman. The documentary is reported to feature actor Hemant Pandey, who has roots in Pithoragarh and has received the Uttarakhand Government's Gaurav Award.
The festival synopsis says Adi Kailash attempts to move audiences beyond the ritual of pilgrimage to the cultural and human dimensions of the Himalayan region, using its landscapes and local stories to explore connections between people, faith and nature.
By contrast, Brazil in Banaras: A Bhairab Dutt Story focuses on sport as a vehicle of social change. Festival material notes Bhairab Dutt began playing football in Pithoragarh using improvised balls and later dedicated himself in Banaras to training economically disadvantaged children, converting his personal struggle into community opportunity.
| Work | Form | Producer | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adi Kailash | Documentary | Sandeep Jha | Himalayan spirituality and local traditions (Pithoragarh) |
| Brazil in Banaras: A Bhairab Dutt Story | Documentary | Deepak Pareek | Sport and social transformation (Bhairab Dutt's journey) |
| Logon Mein Prem Hoga | Music video | — | Debut music video by the director |
Festival organisers said the inclusion of three distinct projects by the same director is an uncommon occurrence for the event and highlights the breadth of subjects addressed by Sharma. The programme places emphasis on regional narratives and human-centred stories drawn from Uttarakhand and adjoining cultural spaces.
Local screening of works that foreground Uttarakhand's landscapes, traditions and social concerns adds to the festival's stated aim of promoting regional filmmaking and providing a platform for stories rooted in the hills. The selection of Hemant Pandey, an actor with ties to Pithoragarh, for Adi Kailash links the film's subject matter to recognised regional talent.
Organisers of the Dehradun International Film Festival did not provide screening dates or the festival's full programme in the material reviewed. Further details on screening schedules and venue allocations are expected from the festival secretariat ahead of the event.
Festival attendees and local cultural observers said the visibility for regional filmmakers at such events can help bring attention to smaller production houses and socially oriented documentaries, and can foster wider public engagement with Uttarakhand's cultural narratives.
