Lalit Mohan Joshi's "Angwal," a semi-autobiographical documentary set in his Himalayan birthplace, is set to have its premiere in London next week. The film delves into the tradition of traditional poetry in his native region.
Joshi, the founder of the UK-based not-for-profit South Asian Cinema Foundation (SACF), highlights, “Combining the spoken word with music that typifies the region, the film captures the responses and deep philosophical worldview of some representative poets in the face of a society undergoing profound change.
He further elaborates, “The film also presents a bird’s eye view of the high points of Kumaoni poetry as I have interspersed the narrative through poetry, anecdotes and Kumaoni music, composed by Chandrashekhar Tiwari and Harish Pant.”
The documentary, meaning "embrace," follows Joshi, a resident of London, as he returns to the hills of Kumaon in Uttarakhand, exploring the poetic heritage of his family. Captured by Rangoli Agarwal, the film showcases the breathtaking landscapes of Nainital, Ranikhet, Almora, Naukuchiatal, Malaunj, Shitalakhet, and Sattal. Its UK debut will take place at BFI Southbank as part of the South Asian Heritage Month.
'Angwal' offers a portrait of distinguished poets from the area, incorporating their poems into musical interludes that enhance the thematic elements of the documentary.
