Jharkhand Archives - Cycle Tour India

How do regional film industries form and rise in India?

India, renowned for its linguistic diversity, boasts over 120 major languages, 270 mother tongues, and a staggering 19,500+ dialects. Within this linguistic tapestry, 22 major film industries thrive, with over 1000+ production organizations spanning the nation. The emergence of YouTube as a platform has significantly contributed to the growth of newer regional film industries in India. Despite the dominance of major film industries, lesser-known production houses operating in local regional languages are quietly flourishing and steadily gaining prominence.

During my extensive cycling tour across India, I had the privilege of interacting with individuals passionately contributing to the formation and growth of the Nagpuri and Khotta film industry, representing the regional language of Jharkhand and various parts of West Bengal. Engaging with a collective of artists, including the emerging Nagpuri/Khotta actor, 23-year-old Badnam Sanam, and the esteemed 26-year-old actor-cum-producer Rahul Kumar Mahato, provided valuable insights into the dynamics of shaping a regional film industry in India. With Jharkhand alone boasting 30 languages, witnessing the rise of a new industry in Nagpuri and Khotta was both captivating and mesmerizing. Exploring the inner workings of this burgeoning industry proved to be enlightening, surprising, and as entertaining as watching one of its films.

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Things I got to learn travelling Jharkhand on a cycle

Despite Bihar and Jharkhand having separated only in 2000, my tour across both states revealed stark differences in aspects such as population, culture, industrialization, communities, language, availability of resources, and people’s mindset. Having previously encountered challenges while traveling in densely populated Bihar, my experience in Jharkhand was unexpectedly pleasant. The state boasted greenery and forested areas, surpassing my observations in the other eight states I visited. Notably, 25% of Jharkhand’s population consists of tribals, contributing to a unique and welcoming atmosphere. The warm hospitality and calm nature of the people left a lasting impression, reminiscent of the legendary M.S. Dhoni, who not only exemplifies Jharkhand’s cricketing prowess but also reflects the character depth of its residents. Despite abundant mineral resources, the state faces significant developmental setbacks attributed to a challenging political landscape. In this article, I aim to share my unbiased travel experiences in Jharkhand, acknowledging potential personal biases and travel modes. I encourage readers to provide feedback and constructive comments, recognizing the subjective nature of my observations.