Archive · 9 Nov 2025
Filmmaker Goutam Ghose Discusses Rivers, Displacement, and His Film 'Parikrama'
A filmmaker named Goutam Ghose really loves rivers and has made many movies about them!
He was inspired to make a film called 'Parikrama' after seeing how a river valley called Narmada was changed.
Many people lost their homes because of a big dam.
He also talked about a special walk people do around the Narmada river.
Ghose mentioned that other countries are working hard to remove old dams from rivers to help nature.
He believes we should be careful with rivers, especially in the mountains, so we don't cause big problems like floods.
He uses rivers in his movies to tell stories about people's lives and how they connect with nature.
Filmmaker Goutam Ghose explains his deep connection to rivers and their central role in his cinematic work.
His film 'Parikrama' draws inspiration from environmental displacement in the Narmada Valley.
Ghose observed the submergence of the Narmada river confluence and tribal villages due to dam construction.
He highlights global trends in river restoration, citing dam removals in Europe and the US.
Ghose advocates for responsible river management, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like the Himalayas.
- Who
- Filmmaker Goutam Ghose
- What
- Discusses his fascination with rivers, their role in his filmmaking, the theme of displacement, and global river restoration efforts.
- When
- The discussion references past events including the 1990s, 2007, and mentions dam removals between 1912-2023.
- Where
- References to Narmada Valley, Central Asia, Teesta river, Himalayas, Europe, and the US.
- Why
- Ghose uses rivers in his cinema to explore themes of displacement, endurance, and the relationship between humanity and nature.
- Filmmaker's Obsession
- Goutam Ghose expresses an obsession with rivers and their significance in his films.
- Film 'Parikrama'
- Inspired by the Narmada Valley and the story of displacement, focusing on a child leaving home to earn money and buy land for his father.
- Narmada Valley Context
- Ghose witnessed the Narmada Valley in the 1990s during protests and observed the submergence of a river confluence and tribal villages by 2007.
- River Metaphors
- Uses rivers as metaphors for endurance (in 'Paar') and plans to start a film on Subhas Bose with a river crossing scene.
- Documentary 'Beyond the Himalayas'
- Explored dried-up rivers in Central Asia.
- Teesta River Observation
- Noticed efforts to block Teesta river waters for energy production through barrages and tunnels.
- Narmada Parikrama
- Fascinated by the ritual and hardship of the Narmada parikrama, which involves walking along the river's banks.
- Global River Restoration
- Notes European countries removing river barriers and the US planning dam removals, including on the Snake River.