Rajdeep Choudhury’s Varanasi Documentary Wins Heritage Cinema Excellence Award in London
From the bustling lanes of Silchar in Assam to the cinematic halls of London, filmmaker Rajdeep Choudhury has carried India with him every step of the way. Though he has spent over 17 years in the United Kingdom, the stories he chooses to tell remain deeply rooted in the country he left behind.His latest documentary, Chalo India With Eric Ji (Varanasi), is not merely a travel film. It is an intimate cultural journey through one of India’s oldest and most spiritual cities, seen not through the eyes of tourists but through the lens of memory, curiosity, and lived experience.Varanasi Beyond the PostcardsMost travel films attempt to romanticise India. Rajdeep’s documentary does the opposite, it simply observes. The ghats glowing at dawn, temple bells echoing through narrow alleys, steaming street food, chants rising during Makar Sankranti, and the timeless calm of Sarnath—Varanasi unfolds naturally before the camera. The documentary captures the rhythm of everyday life and the spiritual pulse that makes Varanasi unlike any other city in the world. Through observational storytelling and immersive visuals, the film explores how ancient traditions continue to breathe within modern India.At the centre of this journey is Eric Ollerenshaw, former Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom and a former history teacher whose long-standing fascination with India inspired the larger anthology project. But what unfolds on screen is not tourism. It is discovery.Rajdeep hands Eric the city of Varanasi—its chaos, beauty, contradictions and silences—and allows him to experience it organically. From the sacred ghats to local eateries and hidden lanes, the film documents not just places, but emotions attached to them.A Proud Moment at the British Film InstituteThe documentary recently earned international recognition after being officially selected for the Indian Panorama Non-Feature section at the 56th edition of the International Film Festival of India.Following its selection, the film was screened at the prestigious British Film Institute (BFI NFT2) in London on May 10. The screening was organised by the High Commission of India, London, in collaboration with the UK Asian Film Festival and Tongues on Fire. The event drew members of the Indian diaspora, cinema lovers and audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds, many of whom connected deeply with the documentary’s honest portrayal of India.That evening became even more memorable when the documentary team received the “Heritage Cinema Excellence Award” for its contribution to cultural storytelling through cinema.Telling India’s StoriesRajdeep Choudhury’s creative journey extends beyond documentaries. He is also an actor and storyteller exploring themes of identity, migration and belonging. His film A Teacher’s Gift, in which he plays Rohan, a Hindi teacher living in London, was selected for the Tribeca Festival Lisboa, further strengthening his presence on the international film circuit.What makes his storytelling stand out is its emotional honesty. He does not package India for global audiences. Instead, he invites them to experience its textures, contradictions and humanity. And perhaps that is why his films resonate. Because even from thousands of miles away, Rajdeep Choudhury continues to tell stories that feel unmistakably close to home.