THE BACKDROP:

Hamari Ramleela is an ethnographic feature documentary that looks beyond the theater to reveal Ramleela as a living process of collective labor and memory. Rooted in the daily life of an urban Indian neighborhood, the film follows a community as they restage this centuries-old tradition. It portrays the event not as a fixed spectacle, but as a fragile, negotiated practice constantly reshaped by the modern world.

What is an ethnographic feature documentary?  

It is a long-form non-fiction film that uses in-depth, immersive, and often observational methods to document, analyze, and represent the cultural practices, social behaviors, and everyday lives of a specific group or community. 

Pics: The above collage shows a few stills from the documentary.

Set in a modest Delhi colony, Hamari Ramleela follows the electricians, tailors, and shopkeepers who bring the Ramayana to life each year. This documentary explores the intersection of community and faith, highlighting the invisible labor that preserves cultural traditions in contemporary India. It is an intimate look at a performance that functions as a vital, living ecosystem. 

Pic: This is the official poster of our documentary film.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DOCUMENTARY:

• Directed by Rinku Sharma, this 2025 feature-length ethnographic documentary offers a deep dive into community traditions.

• With a runtime of 112 minutes, this Indian production is presented in its original Hindi with English subtitles.

• Centered on themes of cultural anthropology, the film explores the intersection of faith and modern urban life.

• The film is rated Universal, making it suitable for all audiences, with its official CBFC certification currently in progress.

Pic: The above collage shows a few stills during the making of the documentary film.

THE DIRECTOR'S VISION:

Hamari Ramleela" began not as a film, but as a return to the lanes where I grew up, the makeshift stages I watched as a child, and the people who continue to bring this story to life with conviction and community. What drew me to document Ramleela was not just its devotional form, but the people behind it. Daily wage workers, shopkeepers, students, for whom it is not performance, but a responsibility passed down over generations.

The film became both a tribute and a quiet document of change. With shrinking spaces and resources, these performances now exist on borrowed grounds and in the margins of urban life. It asks: what happens when we stop making space for what holds us together? At its core, the film is about what we choose to preserve, and the people who refuse to let go not out of stubbornness, but out of love. Their commitment reminded me why I became a filmmaker: to witness, to listen, and to make visible stories that might otherwise disappear.

Help us bring Hamari Ramleela to the global stage. We are raising INR 3 Lakhs for our international premieres in Seoul and Jakarta.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:

We have been invited to screen in Seoul on April 16 and Jakarta on April 19, 2026. 

This journey is our opportunity to showcase the invisible labor and cultural persistence of urban India to the world. In an era of oversimplified images, our film offers an honest, ground-level perspective on how tradition survives in a modern city. Your contribution will help us bridge the gap between a local Delhi colony and a global audience, ensuring our culture is represented with the dignity and depth it deserves.

To take Hamari Ramleela to the global stage, we aim to raise INR 3 Lakhs through this campaign to complete our total funding requirement of INR 4.38 L. A detailed cost breakup is featured below.

MAP:

Our international screenings are presented in collaboration with the Embassy of India across two major cultural hubs. 

• In Seoul, the film is hosted by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) in partnership with the Seongdong Foundation of Arts and Culture (SDFAC). 
• In Jakarta, we are supported by the Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Centre (JNICC). These prestigious collaborations affirm the film’s role in representing Indian heritage on the global stage.

OUR CORE TEAM:

Directed by Rinku Sharma, an award-winning filmmaker specializing in long-form ethnographic observation, the film is produced by actor and voice artist Anushree Sahu, marking her debut in culture-led documentary production. The narrative is co-written by Pradyumna Bawari, a Delhi University and FTII-certified writer, alongside Hemant Ram, a National Geographic-featured cinematographer and NFDC Film Bazaar alumnus. The film’s technical depth is anchored by multidisciplinary editor Maria Vino, known for high-impact brand storytelling, and composer R. Jayant, a bassist for Vishal Bhardwaj who crafted the film’s authentic folk-inspired score. Together, this diverse team of industry professionals combines cinematic precision with a deep commitment to documenting India’s lived community traditions.

This exceptionally talented team is ready to represent our community on the global stage, bringing a story that will not only resonate with international audiences but also make the Indian film industry truly proud.