Bharatbala captures India under lockdown in short film Uthenge Hum

Director Bharatbala has captured the visuals of the 9-week national lockdown in a 4-minute short film titled Uthenge Hum. A part of his ongoing Virtual Bharat project, the film was created by a team of 117 people comprising of about 15 film crews.

The crews filmed the lockdown across 14 states, including Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and others. Key locations include the Delhi Red Fort, the Dharavi slums in Mumbai, Spiti Valley in the Himalayas and the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar.

The on-ground teams were directed live by Bharatbala over video calls, with a master room set up in Mumbai. Shooting permissions were availed from the Government of India and respective state authorities.

National Award-winning actor Seema Biswas has voiced the film.

“Uthenge Hum is tribute to this nation of vastness, of power and presence, and of scale,” read a note from the makers. “As we move ahead from this period of lockdown, India will slowly get back to life and go forth into an uncertain future. But we will remember this time and our collective human experience in the face of this historical time. We must never forget.”

 You can watch the film here: