Sanat Pandey

The narrative in Parikrama travels through multiple spaces and times, through parallel experiences of its twin protagonists that criss-cross each other, though they come from worlds apart. Alessandro is an Italian writer-filmmaker making a film on Narmada Parikrama, an age-old pilgrimage along the holy river Narmada. In the course of his cinematic journey, Alessandro meets a village boy, Lala, who fled home to secure dignity and land for his displaced peasant family. Lala is almost the same age as his son Francesco, who lost his mother in the recent past. The narrative unfolds the story of two boys, one without his mother, the other without his motherland. Alessandro’s narrative takes a new turn as the river Narmada flows by.

In a remote Maharashtra village, Ramakant's idyllic life faces disruption as a dam threatens to submerge his home. Despite the impending upheaval, he remains immersed in the melodies of his idol, Ut. Anwar Khan. The move to a bustling city chawl proves challenging, forcing Ramakant into a day job at a mill, much to his discontent. However, a billboard announcing Ustad Ji's live concert becomes a beacon of hope, propelling Ramakant toward an unexpected opportunity to reconnect with his passion amid the chaos of urban life. As he navigates through the challenges of attending the concert, his determination wavers. The lingering uncertainty remains: will Ramakant persist? Was stumbling upon Ustad's poster a stroke of luck, or could the city hold a subtle realisation guiding Ramakant toward a new perspective?