Jharkhand: Palamu film ‘Ped Chalta Hai’ earns prestigious Cannes premiere selection

Jharkhand’s cultural landscape set to shine on global stage

Mail News Service

Ranchi/Palamu, May 11: In a landmark achievement for Jharkhand’s cultural and cinematic landscape, the film Ped Chalta Hai (The Tree Walks), produced in Palamu, has secured a place at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The film has been officially selected in the coveted ‘World Premiere’ category, marking a moment of immense pride not only for Palamu district but for the entire state of Jharkhand.

Directed by acclaimed Kolkata-based filmmaker Devaditya Bandyopadhyay, the film explores themes deeply rooted in water, forests, land and the lives of communities closely connected to nature. The story has been presented with a gripping blend of thriller and suspense, giving the narrative both emotional depth and cinematic intensity.

The movie was extensively shot across several picturesque and historically significant locations in Palamu, including the forests of the Palamu Tiger Reserve, Palamu Fort, Shahpur Fort and selected areas of Medininagar. Through its visuals, the film captures the untouched natural beauty and cultural richness of the region in a striking and evocative manner.

Speaking over the telephone, director Devaditya Bandyopadhyay stated that the film was produced under the banner of Outline Expression in collaboration with the Masoom Art Group. The Creative Producer of the project is Amit Behl. The original Bengali story was written by Pulak Das, while the Hindi screenplay and dialogues were crafted by Saikat Chatterjee, a noted theatre artist and cinematographer from Palamu.

The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring Mumbai-based actors such as Virendra Saxena, Pramod Pathak, Kumar Saurabh and Satendra Soni. Actors from Kolkata, including Mainak Banerjee and Subrata Banerjee, also play significant roles alongside talented artistes associated with Palamu’s Masoom Art Group.

Several local artistes from Palamu have delivered noteworthy performances in the film, earning appreciation from critics in Mumbai. Artistes featured in the film include Kamakhya Prasad Sinha, Murari Pandey, Amar Bhanja, Ujjwal Sinha, Avinash Pandey, Mannu Rain, Md. Naseem, Shahzada Talib, Mukesh Vishwakarma, Gulshan Mishra, Ashna Bhengra, Kanak Lata Tirkey, Varsha, Govinda, Prakash, Alok Nath, Adarsh Pandey, Md. Kaif, Amartya and Arindam, among others.

The technical team behind the film has also played a vital role in shaping its cinematic appeal. The Director of Photography is Vikram Anand Sawarewal, popularly known as “Bebe,” while the music has been composed by Anand Bhaskar. The film’s action sequences have been choreographed by Sumit Varman, a noted sports coach from Palamu who served as the Fight Director.

Expressing his excitement, Saikat Chatterjee said that the screening of a film shot in Palamu at Cannes is a matter of extraordinary pride for Jharkhand. He credited the successful completion of the project to the support extended by the Palamu and Latehar district administrations, along with officials of the Palamu Tiger Reserve. He also emphasized that theatre artistes from Palamu had once again demonstrated their immense talent and creative potential on an international platform.

The director further informed that the official date and timing of the screening would soon be announced by the festival organizers. He noted that only films that had never been publicly screened elsewhere were selected for the “Premiere” category at Cannes, adding to the significance of the achievement. Following its Cannes premiere, the filmmakers plan to submit the movie to several other international film festivals.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Palamu’s scenic landscape has found a place in world cinema. Earlier, legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray had showcased the region through his internationally acclaimed Bengali film ‘Aranyer Din Ratri,’ which was screened in the Archives section at Cannes. The film had been shot in locations such as Kechki, Betla, Garu and Chipadohar, with renowned actors including Sharmila Tagore, Simi Garewal, Soumitra Chatterjee and Tinnu Anand visiting Palamu during its production.

Now, decades later, Ped Chalta Hai is poised to once again introduce the world to the beauty, culture, and artistic spirit of Palamu on one of cinema’s grandest stages.