Delhi/Dehradun: At a ceremony held to mark the 67th foundation anniversary of Garhwal Bhawan, a symbol of pride for Uttarakhand diaspora in the National Capital Region of Delhi, the first Jaunsari language film, “Mare Gaon Ki Baat,” was declared the Best Uttarakhandi Film of 2023 and 2024, and its producer-director was honored with the “Garh Gaurav Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Samman-2025.” This honor was given for effectively presenting the heritage, social structure, and values of Jaunsari culture through cinema.
Speakers on the occasion noted that Uttarakhand’s regional films have played a significant role in bringing national recognition to the state’s diverse folk languages, cultural traditions, social realities, and regional issues. Furthermore, the expansion of these films has created new employment opportunities for writers, lyricists, musicians, artists, technicians, and cinematographic personnel.
“Mare Gaon Ki Baat,” the first film in the Jaunsari language, was released on December 5, 2024, in theaters across Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh, and remained houseful for nearly a month and a half. The film received widespread acclaim from all sections of society. Its powerful story, woven in the mountainous environment of Jaunsar, impressive screenplay, excellent music, and masterful direction make it a significant achievement in Uttarakhandi folk language cinema. The film displays a balanced blend of sentimentality, humor, drama, and the rich traditions of Pahari culture. Its sensitive portrayal of women’s dignity and the joint family system, which is still relevant today, is a special achievement. Produced under the banner of Sumical Productions, the film is presented by K.S. Chauhan, writer-director Anuj Joshi, lead actor Abhinav Singh Chauhan, lyricist Shyam Singh Chauhan, and music director Amit V. Kapoor.
It is noteworthy that at the 2nd Uttarakhandi Film Awards 2025, “Mare Gaon Ki Baat” was also honored with a Special Jury Mention for its strong theme, emotional presentation, and realistic portrayal of rural life. This honor is a testament to the creative efforts of the entire team involved in the film and their efforts to powerfully present Uttarakhand’s cultural heritage through cinema.
Garhwal Hitaishi Sabha, Delhi, constituted an esteemed panel of producers, actors, theatre artists, and litterateurs to select films that have made significant contributions to Uttarakhandi cinema. The panel unanimously selected “Mare Gaon Ki Baat,” the first film in the Jaunsari language, for this honor.
It is noteworthy that the Garhwali film “Meru Gau” was previously honored as Best Film in 2023 from this same platform. Garhwal Hitaishi Sabha is proud to bestow this prestigious honor on the first film in the Jaunsari language. This honor will be remembered as a historic achievement not only for Jaunsari cinema, but also for the preservation, promotion, and recognition of Uttarakhandi folk culture as a whole.
