A scene from Sarbojanin
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Goutam Bhattacharya’s short film Sarbojanin is a gentle exploration of longing, acceptance, and finding community in a new city. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Durga Puja, the 20-minute film follows a young Bengali woman living in Hyderabad as she steps out with a colleague to experience the festival away from home for the first time.
A celebration of emotional and cultural identity, Sarbojanin taps into the deep-rooted bond many feel with their hometowns, especially during festivals. The film marks Goutam’s directorial debut, and he uses this simple story to explore the complexities of nostalgia, adaptation, and cultural belonging in modern urban life.
Goutam Bhattacharya
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
“I’m still learning,” says Goutam, who began his filmmaking journey as an editor before transitioning into directing corporate and ad films. In 2017, he launched his own production house, Backstage Blues, which eventually backed this fiction project.
A screen grab from Sarbojanin
Despite its simplicity, Sarbojanin captures much — the hustle of young professionals managing work deadlines and curfews, the spirited Bengali approach to food unbound by religious sentiment, and most significantly, the enduring pride of a migrant community trying to stay connected to its roots.
“A large number of educated young Bengalis move to cities across India and abroad in search of better opportunities. I’ve seen how nostalgia can quietly tug at you,” Goutam explains. “Durga Puja for us is not just religious — it’s a cultural carnival, a celebration of art, inclusivity, and diversity. At a time when social divisions are widening, Sarbojanin aims to highlight harmony and unity.”
The entire team of the short film Sarbojanin
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
The film’s title, meaning “for everyone,” embodies this spirit. To underscore the message of inclusion, Goutam introduced a second character — a Hyderabadi local from a different faith — to gently contrast cultures while celebrating their coexistence.
Shot over four days in real, bustling festival settings with minimal equipment and a small, passionate crew, the filming process was full of challenges. Though principal shooting was done in 2023, the team had to wait another year to capture additional footage during the next Durga Puja. “It took us two years to complete because we needed to return to the festival atmosphere,” he says.
Sarbojanin is currently making the rounds on the festival circuit and has already earned several accolades. The film won Best First-Time Filmmaker award at Indie House in Barcelona, Spain, received a Special Jury Mention at the 9th Indian World Film Festival 2025 in Hyderabad, and was officially selected for the 13th Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival 2025.
Published – April 04, 2025 01:00 pm IST
