Darj to host fest on films about train journeys

Darjeeling: The iconic Darjeeling station of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) will host a film festival in the first week of June. This three-day cultural celebration will be organised in partnership with Dubai-based filmmaker Shrey Rajdeo. The organisers have confirmed that the festival will honour notable figures in Indian cinema.DHR director Rishav Choudhary explained that the festival, DHRUMA (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Universal Motion Arts), derives its name from the Sanskrit word "dhruma," signifying smoke, which represents the railway's heritage. "The festival will focus on short films revolving around train journeys and the stories of children with special needs. This year, Bollywood star Riya Sen will be the special guest of honour. Actor Moon Moon Sen will be conferred with the lifetime achievement award" said Choudhary. The initial screenings will commence at Darjeeling station after regular railway operations, followed by two days of screenings at Bhanu Bhawan in central Darjeeling. The festival aims to support independent and regional language films. "We are also looking at adding activities like bike rallies and marathons to create a festive atmosphere," added Choudhary. "So far, we have received 35 film submissions, and entries will remain open until May 21," Rajdeo told TOI, adding that entried have come from Germany, Dubai, and Qatar, as well as films in Malayalam, Nepali, Bengali, and Hindi languages. "A total of 40 films will be screened, and submissions are completely free of charge," he added. The distinguished jury includes Sunzu Bachaspatimayum, noted filmmaker and journalist Amitabha Singh, national Award-winning cinematographer (Khosla Ka Ghosla, The Good Road) Himanshu Malik, actor-director (Tum Bin, Chitrakut) Anirban Dutta, national award-winning documentarian Mohammad Muslim, and Padma Shri filmmaker from Qatar and photojournalist, Sudharak Olwe.