New film Pyre explores ageing and loneliness in the hills of Uttarakhand

What Happened

The new movie Pyre tells the story of an elderly couple living in a small village in Uttarakhand. Lead characters Padam Singh and Hira Devi are in their eighties and have spent their entire lives in their mountain home. The two-hour film follows their daily routines as they tend to livestock, deal with illness, and wait patiently for their only son to return after leaving for Mumbai nearly thirty years ago.

Life in the Hills

The film is set against a picturesque background where natural events like cloudbursts and landslides are a regular part of life. As neighbours slowly move away, the elderly couple become the lone inhabitants of their hills. They rely on local helpers like neighbours Lakshman and Jeewan, played by Shubham Chandra and Shubham Chaudhary, who are summoned by a long horn during emergencies. The old woman is frequently taken to hospital on a makeshift contraption, while the old man brings along a goat as barter. Postman Bishan, played by Shadab Khan, brings moments of hope with the possibility of a letter from the missing son.

Context

Films set in remote mountain regions often highlight the unique struggles and quiet resilience of rural communities facing isolation and migration. The movie is directed by Vinod Kapri, who previously made films like Pihu and Miss Tanakpur Hazir Ho. Pyre earned three stars for its observational style and focus on the deep bond between its aged lead actors.