Dhruv Harsh’s ‘Elham’: Of faith and friendship

A still from the movie ‘Elham’.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Personal loss often results in powerful cinematic experiences. Dhruva Harsh’s story is no different.

The young director’s latest film, Elham (Revelation), is a poignant tale of the relationship between a boy and a goat that has been brought home for ceremonial sacrifice. Set against the backdrop of Id festivities in Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh, the children’s film sees rituals from the eyes of a child and leaves a message for all age groups.

“The film offers an interesting perspective on childhood and faith. In the film, Faizan believes in God, but his bond with his goat, Dodu, is even stronger,” says Dhruva. Elham has been selected as the opening film of the upcoming Kolkata International Children’s Film Festival and is also part of the ongoing Jagran Film Festival.

Extremely fond of animals since childhood, Dhruva recalls three major incidents where he lost a parrot, a rabbit, and a dog that he loved dearly. “I cried for each of them. Although I felt guilty for months because I could not save any of them, I had no way to make amends. Later, during my exposure to Korean Cinema, I watched Kim Ki-duk’s arthouse film Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring and found inspiration to weave a story around my life and childhood memories.”

This led him to create a narrative about a child and a goat “purely based on love and faith that transcends boundaries.” The film has a certain old-world innocence which we miss in children’s cinema these days. “A tale with morals has the power to impact society, and as storytellers, we must take that responsibility seriously,” says Dhruva.

Every child in this country, he underlines, has grown up listening to stories from the Ramayan and Mahabharat, regardless of religious background. “These stories are rooted in our heritage, but unfortunately, we no longer produce children’s films that uphold these values.”

Children’s faith, Dhruva says, transcends dogma and custom. “Children do not judge things as adults do. The character of the Hermit in the film is inspired by a Sufi poet and philosopher, Ibn Arabi, who helps Faizan preserve his faith. The Hermit recognises that Faizan’s faith is intertwined with his soul and does not want to see it maligned by something the boy does not believe in.”

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Hailing from a village in UP, Dhruva was drawn to literature during his stay at Allahabad University. After dabbling with writing poetry and plays, he discovered European and Iranian cinema, whose influence reflects on his work. Alongside, he has completed his PhD in English on the Mahabharat and is pursuing a post-doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

“Art empowers me, allowing me to live without being bound by communal identity. Growing up in a small village in UP, I was instilled with different values. Later, I studied and travelled in cities, where I was exposed to diverse perspectives. I owe a great debt to Allahabad University, where I learned to challenge the dogma that seeps into everyday life.”