Fire in the Mountains review: A scathing critique of India’s luminous holiday destinations

3.5/5

STORY: A tough-minded village woman runs a homestay in Uttarakhand’s Munsiyari to earn some extra money for the treatment of her son, while she continues to fight traditions and societal pressures.      

REVIEW: The breathtaking views of Kumaon valley are curiously interrupted by the constant news updates playing on the radio, as authorities continue to make hollow promises to build roads for the local population. Just then, you meet Chandra (Vinamrata Rai) - a polite rural woman, who is trying her best to lure an urban family to come and stay at her homestay at half price. Named Switzerland, the cottage comes with mesmerising views of snow-capped mountains and a modern toilet, unlike the one located near the main road, which a spiky-hair tourist guide is trying to take them to. Chandra also promises to serve them authentic pahadi khana. But the only problem is that her homestay is perched on a hilltop and the way to it is meandering and patchy. Nonetheless, she secures the deal.   

For Chandra, a good road is not just a means to boost her side hustle and, thereby, help iron out the financial problems of her family. Every now and then, she also has to carry her little son Prakash (Mayank Singh Jaira) on her back and walk down the hill, as she and her husband Dharam (Chandan Bisht) take him to the doctor. Why? Because, he seems to have lost his ability to walk following an injury. A paved road would mean he no longer has to miss his school and live a subdued life. For now, Prakash is being homeschooled by his teenage sister Kanchan (Harshita Tiwari), who herself is good at studies, but is also often distracted by social media. There’s also Dharam’s widowed sister Kamla (Sonal Jha), who stays with them. Although mostly tight-lipped, hers is not a character you would probably sympathise with so much. 

An allegory of sorts, Ajitpal Singh’s award-winning debut feature - Fire In the Mountains - documents a rural woman’s steely determination to smash the patriarchy and overcome obstacles in her life with conviction and compassion. Chandra is not someone who easily gives up. She fights superstitions with the same vigour that she addresses her daughter’s ‘teen issues’. The director paints a somewhat raw portrait of what actually unfolds in the daily lives of the people who reside in the Himalayan terrains that are otherwise considered shining spots on the tourism map. 

The director employs an engaging style of storytelling. You’ll be in awe of the specific details in the narrative - not just about the bucolic setting but also about people’s psyche and a society steeped in lore and superstition, when the actual problem lies in a lack of education and avenues of income. That said, the film is not all about a drunkard beating up his wife or a mother trying to defend her differently abled child. Every character in the film - which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival - is carved with care and empathy. In fact, some aspects of characterisation will catch you by surprise. The movie also touches upon the crooked practices that are so prevalent in our healthcare system that we no longer notice them. 

As the title hints at, Fire in the Mountains is about the disquiet and rather tumultuous lives led by the economically disadvantaged population of India’s thriving tourist destinations. Through the lens of a remote village in the Munsiyari region of Uttarakhand, Ajitpal dishes out a scathing critique of the country’s glorious globalisation tag. It’s the backstory that often remains untold when city dwellers rally toward these places to escape the bustle. 

VERDICT: Vinamrata’s splendid performance is not to be missed, while there are moments of comic relief too, thanks to Chandan’s quirks and failings. Fire in the Mountains’ vague and unsettling ending may make you rethink the message it actually intended to convey, but there’s no dispute over the narrative being a socially relevant commentary. Streaming exclusively on SonyLIV, this 80-minute film is worth watching once.