Join us at Arthshila Ahmedabad for the film screening of ‘Villages of Garo Hills (Garo Hills Ni A.chik Songrang)‘, followed by a discussion with Abhishek Udaykumar (Filmmaker) and Dr. Monica.

DETAILS:
Date: 05 July 2025 | Saturday
Time: 5.00 pm onwards
Run time: 147 mins
Language:  Garo and Atong with English subtitles

Villages of Garo Hills (Garo Hills Ni A.chik Songrang) is a documentary by Abhishek Udaykumar. The film follows the lives of three farmers in Garo Hills, Meghalaya, from the monsoon to the winter, and studies their livelihoods, domestic lives and aspirations. It explores their cycles of agriculture and alternative livelihoods amid changing landscapes and economic practices. The film was made with the support of BAKDIL, an NGO in Meghalaya. The screening will be followed by a curated discussion with Dr. Monica about the state of livelihoods and wellbeing in contemporary rural India. The discussion will contemplate the need for a deeper understanding of rural India, the human condition, livelihoods and documentary filmmaking.

Abhishek Udaykumar is a writer, filmmaker and painter from India. He graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London with English and Creative Writing. He makes documentaries, fiction films and experimental films, writes novels, short stories, poetry and essays, and paints in diverse styles. His narratives revolve around the human condition, natural ecosystems and memories and dreams of childhood.

Dr. Monica is a cross-cultural healthcare professional and storyteller who works in India and the USA. Her work revolves around bringing innovative ideas to life in health systems and community spaces. Her experience is rooted in science and systems thinking, human stories and rural impact. She brings a sharp yet compassionate lens to issues of livelihood, dignity and survival — drawing on spaces often neglected by city dwellers.

Venue: Arthshila Ahmedabad
2-G, Opposite Ahmedabad Management Association, Panjrapol, Ambawadi – 380015.