| TITLE OF THE FILM | Bayberries Ripen In The Monsoon (Kafal Pako Ashadha) |
| DIRECTED BY | Pulkit Tomar |
| LANGUAGE | Garhwali (English subtitles) |
| YEAR | 2024 |
| COUNTRY | India |
| DURATION | 20 minutes |
PRINCIPAL CREW & CAST
| WRITING & EDITING | Pulkit Tomar |
| CINEMATOGRAPHY | Prateek Pamecha |
| LOCATION SOUND, SOUND DESIGN & MIXING | Ankit Thapa |
| MUSIC | Martand Badoni |
| PRINCIPAL CAST | Anshul Kandari, Kishana Devi, Kusum Kandari, Prashant Kandari |
ABOUT THE FILM
In a small village nestled in the hills of Uttarakhand, India, a young boy’s attempt to call a bird from a local folktale by offering kafals (bayberries) is interwoven with the story of an elderly woman sending a letter to her distant daughter. As the letter arrives, it reveals the deep struggles faced by mountain communities, uncovering challenges that shape their everyday lives.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Pulkit Tomar is a self-taught photographer and filmmaker with a degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies. His short film ‘Bastaa’ has garnered international acclaim, winning the Special COVID Prize at the International Rare Disease Film Festival in Berlin in 2021.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
“’Kafal Pako’—a popular folklore in Uttarakhand and Nepal—conveys a deep cultural connection to nature, particularly the kafal fruit (bayberry). Bayberries are supposed to ripen in spring (‘chaith’), and not untimely in early monsoon (‘ashadha’). However, I discovered that climate change is causing the fruit to ripen earlier or later than usual. The title ‘Kafal Pako Ashadha’ embodies shifting seasons and the broader impact of environmental change on traditional rhythms.”
