Shot in the scenic locales of Uttarakhand with a largely local cast and featuring a background score by Shimla-based independent musician Tejaswi Lohumi, Bhediya Dhasaan is set for its international premiere at the Melbourne Film Festival on August 22.
The Hindi feature film has been selected in the “Beyond Bollywood” category under the theme “Rights and Reality” for the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) being held from August 14 to 24. It has already been screened and appreciated at the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) and the Kottayam Film Festival 2025.
Directed by Bharat Singh Parihar of Uttarakhand, the film was mostly shot in Mukteshwar, a prominent hill station, and a majority of actors and crew members are also from the region. The entire music of the film has been composed and recorded by Tejaswi Lohumi at his private studio in Shimla.
The film captures the struggles of a Himalayan village grappling with generational conflict, poverty, and rigid social structures. Parihar, whose direction has been praised for its honesty and depth, said, “Our aim was to portray the essence of an Indian Himalayan village, where change is resisted and poverty becomes a way of life. The film delves into the herd mentality and the darker aspects of human behaviour shaped by extreme poverty. It reveals the clash between tradition and aspiration through the story of a young man who returns to the village after migrating to a big city in search of a better future. He finds himself trapped in the village's conservative social structure.”
It was an unusual subject that needed a different kind of music, and Lohumi has created a unique soundscape that mirrors the cultural and environmental fabric of the Himalayas. He has used some unconventional instruments like the didgeridoo, handpan, kalimba, and djembe along with traditional ones such as the cello, flute, guitar, and nagada to good effect, providing the music the film needed to portray the darker side of life in the hills. It effectively complements the visual narrative.
Talking about his music, Lohumi said, “It feels good to see the film making its mark at an international forum. The director wanted a soundscape that was fresh yet rooted in the hills. I tried to bring textures that could echo both the isolation and intensity of the village setting. I have composed and recorded the entire music of the film at my private studio in Shimla.”
The recognition at IFFM places Bhediya Dhasaan alongside some of the finest works of contemporary Indian cinema and marks a proud moment for both director Bharat Parihar and composer Tejaswi Lohumi, whose collaboration has taken an unusual Himalayan tale to the international audience.
Follow us
