Anuj Joshi: The Most Sensible Garhwali Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues

Review of Garhwali-Kumauni (Uttarakhandi) Films -3

                                               Bhishma Kukreti

[Notes on Sensible Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Garhwali Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Kumauni Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Uttarakhandi Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Mid Himalayan regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Himalayan regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible North Indian regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Indian regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible South Asian regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Asian regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Oriental regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues]

                             Garhwali or Kumauni literature does not provide name, fame and monitory benefits to Garhwali and Kumauni literature creative. However, there are Garhwali and Kumauni language lovers who ignore benefits from creating other language literature and stick to local language literature. There are sensitive Garhwali and Kumauni film makers those leave Hindi filmdom for the sake of local language promotion.

                      Anuj Joshi is one of the sensible persons that left Hindi filmdom for promoting Garhwali-Kumauni language films.  Kathud Bada (Malla Dhangu, Gangasalan, Pauri Garhwal) is second oldest village of Dhangu after village Jaspur. Anuj Joshi belongs to Kathud Bada village. His father is Udai Ram Joshi and mother’s name is Kamla Joshi. Anuj was born on 19/11/1972 in Shimla (HP). When Anuj was studying in Dehradun he used to read story books and was inclined to analyze various storytelling methods. Anuj Joshi was mesmerized film as the best medium of storytelling medium.  In his graduation, Anuj used to see dreams of becoming film director of Garhwali films. When his intimate friends used to caution him that being Garhwali film director means no name, Joshi used to tell that he would not become Garhwali film director for name and money but for a definite and focused cause –thousand years old Garhwali language should be protected.

                   Anuj had clear objective that for film direction he must get knowledge of film direction and in 1995, Anuj Joshi reached Mumbai. In Mumbai Anuj worked with famous film directors as assistant as Jeet, ham Dil de Chuke Sanam etc. he joined television serial making and wrote story, script for Jameer serial. Anuj Joshi wrote and directed Hindi serials as Jameer, Babul ki Dua le ja and Saturdays suspense serials for Doordarshan. Later on, he joined Ekta Kapoor (Bala ji production) and wrote many serial’s stories. Joshi wrote and directed ‘Kasauti Jindgi ki’   

                 His first Garhwali film venture is ‘Teri Saun’. ‘Teri Saun’ is based on Muzaffar Nagar incident of Uttarakhand movement (Joshi was witness there as movement activist).  The movie was produced financed by him and his family. The film was also made in Kumauni language. From exhibition point of view, ‘Teri Saun’ created many records from audience point of view. This is the only film that was run for three prints in Delhi (two Garhwali versions and one Kumauni version). However, Anuj and his family did not get return due to Chalaki of cinema hall owners.  

   Anuj Joshi directed Garhwali VCD/DVD film ‘Garhwali Shole’ (2004).

Anuj Joshi directed Garhwali VCD/DVD film ‘Hantya’ (2005)

 Anuj Joshi directed Garhwali VCD/DVD Play ‘Kya Kan tab’

‘Gullu ‘(2010) is first Garhwali children film and credit goes to Anuj Joshi for its direction.

Anuj Joshi directed other children BDVD/VCD films as ‘Kamli (2011) and ‘Kafal’ (2013). ‘Kafal’ discusses about the worrying position of Garhwali language.

Anil took social issues in his directed films as ‘Kab Khulai rat’ and ‘Kabi t Holi suber’’

‘Ghana Girgit and yamraj’ directed by Anuj Joshi is comedy film.

‘ Gundaru ban gaya Hero’ comedy and serious VCD film directed by Anuj Joshi is about the desire of a young boy to produce films in Garhwali, exploitation by crooked  people and message that Garhwali society should take films seriously and should spend money on films as religious cause.  

‘Manswag’ (2012) VCD film directed by Joshi discusses the issue of Tiger, environment and the problems of villagers together

         When asked about worsening position of Kumauni and Garhali film industry, Anuj Joshi states that he does not have any hope from political leadership of Uttarakhand as politicians and bureaucrats are totally indifferent o Kumauni and Garhwali languages.  However, Anuj is of firm opinion that only society can take the language issue by itself as Laddaki people boycott pirated and the businessmen those do pirating of Ladaki films

  Anuj Joshi requested media also to take the issues to the general public not to buy pirated product at all (pirated CD ko pap samjhen).

 Noted film personality Madan Duklan states that Anuj Joshi is the most sensible Garhwali film director.

* (Based on telephonic talks with Anuj Joshi and Madan Duklan)

Reference: Bhishma Kukreti, 2013

Copyright@   Bhishma Kukreti 1/3/2013

Review of Garhwali and Kumauni Films (Uttarakhandi) to be continued...4

Notes on Sensible Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Garhwali Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Kumauni Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Uttarakhandi Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Mid Himalayan regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Himalayan regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible North Indian regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Indian regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible South Asian regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Asian regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues; Sensible Oriental regional language Film Director about Social and Cultural (Messages) Issues to be continued..