Guwahati/London:Chalo India With Eric Ji (Varanasi), directed by Assam filmmaker Rajdeep Choudhury, was recently screened at the British Film Institute (BFI) in London following its official selection in the Indian Panorama Non-Feature section at the 56th International Film Festival of India.
The documentary forms part of a larger travel and cultural anthology presented by Eric Ollerenshaw, a former Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom and former history teacher, whose long-standing interest in India serves as the foundation for the project.
Choudhury, originally from Silchar in Assam and based in London for over 17 years, conceptualised the documentary series to explore different regions of India through culture, history and lived experiences.
The Varanasi episode was filmed during Makar Sankranti, capturing the spiritual city during the Maha Kumbh period and documenting everyday life, rituals and traditions associated with one of India's oldest cultural centres.
The film follows Eric Ollerenshaw as he journeys through Varanasi's iconic ghats, local food culture, bustling narrow lanes and nearby heritage sites, including Sarnath.
Through observational storytelling and rich visual documentation, the documentary presents multiple dimensions of the city while reflecting on its enduring cultural significance.
The screening took place at BFI NFT2 on May 10 and was organised by the Indian High Commission in London in collaboration with the UK Asian Film Festival and Tongues on Fire.
The event was attended by members of the Indian diaspora, film enthusiasts and audiences from diverse backgrounds.
During the event, the documentary team also received the "Heritage Cinema Excellence Award," presented in association with the Indian High Commission, UK Asian Film Festival and Tongues on Fire, in recognition of their contribution to cultural storytelling through cinema.
The next instalment in the anthology, Chalo India With Eric Ji (Mizoram), will focus on Northeast India and its cultural landscape.
The teaser for the upcoming episode was launched earlier this year by the India Tourism Development Corporation in the presence of Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and ITDC Managing Director Mugdha Sinha.
According to the makers, the broader vision of the documentary series is to document all 28 states of India through travel-based storytelling aimed at international audiences, highlighting lesser-explored cultural narratives from across the country.
For Choudhury, the project marks the beginning of a larger cinematic mission-to celebrate the unique identity of every Indian state while presenting a confident, diverse and globally resonant image of India to the world.