Smiles From Off The Road
Chinmaya Dunster continues his career as a filmmaker. His videos ‘Smiles from off the road’ show footage of people filmed during his travels in Uttarakhand Himalayas and Kerala (India). In the background we hear his own compositions on guitar.
In 2009, another video could be added to the collection:
3 – Travels with a Hat
Acknowledgements
‘Smiles From Off The Road’ was selected for the CMS International Children’s Film Festival in Lucknow, India (7-13 April 2009).
The film had also been selected for the 4th ViBGYOR Film Festival for Short and Documentary, Thrissur, Kerala, India (4-8 Feb 2009). A jury that included filmmakers, film critics, journalists and social activists selected the film for this festival.
Smiles From Off The Road - Part 3 (Travels with a Hat)
This film was shot in a village called Juni in the Kumaon Himalayas. It sits on the edge of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve; due North there is nothing but thick forest and a jumble of 22,000 ft peaks up to the Tibetan border. The village is three hours steep walk from the nearest rough road, and a further three hours drive from the nearest main town and hospital. Juni is bypassed by any tourist/trekking traffic, and seemingly by any development projects.
Filmed in Uttarakhand, India (May 2009).
Smiles From Off The Road - Part 2 (Treasuring The Girl Child)
Despite the wonderful smiles, the girlchild in India works much harder than her brothers: fetching wood and water, caring for younger siblings.
She is given less to eat, poorer education and has a far higher chance of dying young, or being aborted as a fetus.
For the sake of smiling children - let’s treasure the girlchild!
Filmed in Uttarakhand Himalayas and Wyanad, Kerala (2008).
Smiles From Off The Road - Part 1
Smiles, laughter, innocent trust, spontaneous welcome to strangers - these are the hallmarks of people in India living ‘off the road’, and untouched by Western ‘values’.
Perhaps our crime, drug and depression-ridden Western society might have something to learn from them?
Filmed in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttaranchal Himalayas, India in June 2008, this video shows some of the most inspiring smiles you’ll ever be likely to see! (2008)