Thirty-three years. That is the time my father, Captain Sumit Bhatnagar, has spent in uniform, serving the nation as an officer in the Indian Navy. A seaman, a pilot, an instructor, an administrator; Papa donned many robes in his illustrious career... but the uniform remained a constant. Over the years, this uniform becomes the identity of an officer. Their second skin. Each star and stripe stands for the honour garnered with every rise in rank. Each morning, when Papa threw his whites over his shoulders, it filled him with a sense of purpose with which no other occupation could compete. With this short film, made on the momentous occasion of his retirement, I've tried to capture the rituals of his daily activity, which might seem mundane when done like clockwork... but once I realised the transcience of these actions, they turned sacred. As this honorary garb is laid to rest, I wish my father a well-earned retired (or re-attired, as his friends call it) life, where he can fulfil his shelved dreams of riding motorcycles in the mountains, delving into our ancient & sacred texts or merely enjoying day-after-day on his beloved golf course. Aap ne humare liye sab kuch kar diya, ab humari baar hai! Critique and comments are welcomed below. Jai Hind! A film by Vanshika Bhatnagar. #indiannavy #navy #legacy #tribute #motivation #emotional #india #uniform

The Gallant Gurung ~ An Odyssey Against All Odds. From the remote villages of Nepal to becoming an esteemed officer in the Indian Navy, Commander Dil Ram Gurung's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance. Witness his remarkable rise; overcoming language barriers and societal expectations to leave behind a legacy for the ages. Join us as we celebrate Cdr Dil Ram Gurung's indomitable spirit, which took him from Nepal to the Navy, unfold in three eras of his life. We invite you to share your reflections on this inspiring journey in the comments below. What aspect of his story resonates with you the most? And thank you for taking the time out to watch our film, we appreciate it deeply. :) Chapter Timestamps - 00:00 - Intro 01:25 - Chapter I : Setting Sail 06:38 - Chapter II : Finding Anchorage 12:05 - Chapter III : Return to Motherbase #Documentary #IndianNavy #NewRelease #Nepal #Navy #Inspiration #Military #Motivation #BeyondBorders #TheGallantGurung

Experience the remarkable life of Commander Dil Ram Gurung as we unveil his extraordinary odyssey on YouTube this Sunday. The Gallant Gurung, a short documentary film, releases 3rd March 2024. Delve into his childhood struggles tracing his path to becoming a distinguished Naval officer, a journey fueled by bold resilience, from villages of Nepal to an Indian Navy base. A story of hope and what unfolds when one dares to dream beyond borders. #Documentary #IndianNavy #NewRelease #Nepal #Navy #Inspiration #Military #Motivation #BeyondBorders #TheGallantGurung

A day after my 22nd birthday in March this year, I got off a jeep in a small Sikkimese village with a rucksack on my shoulders and a desire to 'give back' in my heart. I'd decided to make 2023 the 'year of seva'. All my life I had received anything and everything I wanted... whether it was the Barbie pogo stick as a child, my dream college as a teen, or the freedom to pursue my passion as an adult. The Universe had been beyond kind. It was time to balance out the blessings by sharing them... especially with those who need it the most. I volunteered at Sikkim Himalayan Academy for three months - teaching subjects, singing songs, serving food, making art, and telling stories to the kids there. Understanding their complex lives and watching their simple smiles - despite all of the hardships. But again if I said I gave more than I received I'd be lying. I arrived at the school after a tumultuous period in my life, after dropping out of the dream college, feeling misunderstood by those closest to me, and hitting rock bottom in physical health. But it's safe to say that the children, the teachers and the villagers of this corner of the world, with their love, respect and care healed me. I met some amazing folks here too - GS sir, Maree miss, Nedup sir, Miss Divya, Dan, Ravi, Aru, Ruma miss... This film is an ode to the people who have and are contributing to the wonderful work being done at SHA. It's been 20 years since the 'blue school' opened its doors and ever since it has provided not only an education but also a home to the children of Sikkim. So here it is - Happy Anniversary, Dear SHA! Thank you for giving me a tiny place in your wide heart and a small chapter in your long saga of liberating people through the armour of a good education. I hope to be on the country road that leads me to your home soon.... To know more about SHA - www.sikkimhimalayanacademy.org To donate - www.sikkimhimalayanacademy.org/make-a-donation-1 Instagram - @sikkimhimalayanacademy A film by Vanshika Bhatnagar. Website - www.goodgrapesgrove.com Email - vanshikabhatnagar01@gmail.com Instagram - @good.grape P.S. because of some technical glitch, Youtube is not allowing comments on this video. If you’d like to get in touch with me about SHA or the film, please do by the email above.

A film to capture the pulse of Mumbai city. Shot on Panasonic HC-V180K Handicam

The story of how cinema set my heart on fire. My deepest gratitude to my parents, the sailors at the Mulla Auditorium, Anushka and her family, Prakriti, and Commodore Rishiraj for helping me create my dream film. This would've been impossible without you all... Song credits: Je Te Laisserai Des Mots - written and performed by Patrick Watson Pi’s Lullaby – composed by Mycheal Danna, written and performed by Bombay Jayashri First Night, First Day – OST for Life of Pi, composed by Mycheal Danna Cinema Paradiso - Love Theme, composed by Ennio Morricone Ab Ki Yeh Subah (ft. Sanjeev Nayak) - performed by Parvaaz Heroes – written by Brian Eno and David Bowie, performed by David Bowie I have used stills from Life Of Pi (2012, dir. Ang Lee) as it plays a crucial role in the story. I take no credits for it. Contact- goodgrape33@gmail.com

namaste, all. the farm laws passed in india in 2020 were done while blatantly breaching the 'democracy' this country seems to base itself on. it was a stab on the back to the very people who provide for every stomach in the nation by letting piggy corporates capitalise on the agrarian sector. my experimental filmmaking class was designed around the widespread protests that followed after the laws came into motion. we first created a soundtrack that conveyed our stance on the issue, and then a film to marry the sound to some visuals. i was angry while researching and making this film, which came out to be an amalgamation of wordplay and stop-motion animation. the 'ayes' certainly did not have it. and hence, the folks took to the streets, shouting their haay's against it, making for one of the largest organized protests in the world. i hope you like the film. a special thanks to shai heredia for her mentorship. contact: goodgrape33@gmail.com

hello all. here is a stop-motion animation made for my soulmate's nineteenth birthday, in which i have tried to capture the essence of her crazy mind, which is no less wonderfully strange than alice's wonderland. anvita parmar, i am more in awe of you every day. all of you. and gosh, i don't know which graces of fate got us together, but we are two lucky bitches to have found each other. i've seen you wither, seen you blossom, and i've never seen anyone walk through life with as much grace and strength as you do. you will always be my person, the one i look across from the room and smile at, even when we're making small talk with other people. love you from the thumb, around the universe, and back to my index. -v song: times infinity by mexicolas

some urdu/hindi poetry i wrote when i went to agra on my field trip from school last year. i tried to capture the magic of agra in a few words and b&w pictures i'd clicked there. agra was beautiful. it felt like india in it's essence. the sand-coloured monuments, the inky sunsets, the pearl moon, the lattices and my lovely friends. we had such a grand time over there and i can never forget it. in hindsight, all of these memories turn into warm gratitude and bittersweet nostalgia. if any thoughts on this, write to me: goodgrape33@gmail.com