Here’s a travel documentary film, unlike one you have seen before.
It will remind one of the light, fresh, and simple moments they had while living in or visiting India during their summer vacations. Or it will inspire them to visit the motherland to reconnect with their humble roots.
Shot completely on the go, Rohini, a light-hearted and free-spirited queer tomboy, takes us on a “virtual” journey through Haryana, Delhi, and West Bengal. She offers real and raw mini adventures on a spontaneous roller-coaster ride through a section of the new and old India. Her journey is called “Yeh Sundar Safar” in Hindi or “This Beautiful Journey” in English because it unfurled as just so!
Viewers should grab this chance to “remotely” escape and find local treasures with Rohini in the places no commercial tour guide will take a traveller. The rustic and new India is at everyone’s fingertips now.
Originally from Freehold, New Jersey and now based in Los Angeles, CA, Rohini takes us to the country where her parents were born and brought up. Through the artistic and honest perspective of her eyes and heart, this travelogue displays all the impromptu, nostalgic, and personal moments that travel can bring with exuberant joy and life lessons. This travel diary explores a range of 24 topics involving individuals, family, politics, history, food, social issues, spirituality, and religion. Experience up close and personal on this fast ride through the diverse thoughts, colours, voices, smells, sounds, and emotions from her experiences in India.
With edgy and fast-paced cinematography, the film displays the cinematic meaning of the mundane with a raw, journalistic, and rustic visual style. It also shares Rohini’s special love for the South Asian community’s culture and presence in the world. As a queer woman travelling India, viewers will also find it interesting how Rohini gently breaks social boundaries by approaching and learning about the local people and their cultures off the beaten path.
The film’s ongoing theme of adventure is incredibly important for travellers across the world who yearn to fly during the ongoing pandemic. Foremost, it is an opportunity for people to virtually leave their quarantine cave and for those who seek to embrace and love people from different walks of life. To add, the documentary covers a number of ongoing social issues in India such as the prevention of inter-regional marriage in Kashmir, farmers tilling the fields (who are currently protesting), the youth’s modern take on India’s future, and the push and pull between modernity and tradition in an ever-growing country.
The film has graciously garnered 100,000+ views on social media and the honourable laurels from the following film festivals:
- Winner for Best Documentary and Travel Film – Tagore International Film Festival
- Winner for Best Documentary and Travel Film – Picasso Einstein Buddha International Film Festival
- Winner for Best Documentary – Kashmir International Film and Cultural Festival
- Finalist – New York International Film Awards – NYIFA
- Official selection – Montreal Independent Film Festival
- Official selection – Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival
- Official selection – Chinh Youth Film Festival
“This Beautiful Journey” gracefully discusses how India embraces visitors with open arms while valuing hard work, generosity, and hospitality. These are humble values the world very much needs to cherish while darkness prevails! Rohini’s ultimate goal is to bring reflection to freshen our minds and smiles to our faces through the spontaneity of her journey. Each mini-adventure is packed with meaning and adventure, so do hop into a “virtual” seat and enjoy this fast roller coaster ride till the very end!
