It is easier to push boundaries in cinema now: Yashasvi Juyal

Excerpts from a conversation with Yashasvi Juyal whose film Rains Don’t Make US Happy Anymore is a love story against the backdrop of Lohari, a village submerged in the waters of the Vyasi hydropower project hydroelectric dam in Uttarakhand.
Your films are usually on social subjects, like The Last Rhododendron which addresses migration. Rains Don’t Make US Happy Anymore tows the same tenor?
I hail from Uttarakhand so most of my stories are themed around that region and its narrative. This film is based in Lohari, a village near Uttarakhand-Himachal border and inhabited by Jaunsari tribe, one of the most indigenous tribal communities in Uttarakhand. They have a fascinating culture, which I’ve been drawn to for a long time. That’s what got me interested in exploring the area more deeply. It is a love story of a boy from the tribe and an imaginary conversation with his distant lover.
Like actors, do filmmakers also get boxed into certain themes or genres?
Absolutely. But it’s early days, my journey is just beginning. My debut feature already plays with the mold a bit. There’s comedy in it too, which people wouldn’t expect from me. So, I’m evolving. Sometimes I feel like doing something form-heavy, sometimes it’s more narrative-driven. I’m still finding my voice.
Does being an independent filmmaker fulfil you?
So far, all my films have been completely independent — self-funded, supported through labs and grants. I was fortunate to find a producer for my short docu because they truly believed in the story. But, it’s challenging. Especially since contemplative or slow cinema doesn’t have much of a place in the Indian mainstream right now.
The fact that you're working independently is also a bit of a choice, right?
Exactly. I was at recently and saw filmmakers working with experimental footage, VR, all kinds of innovative forms. The world is pushing boundaries in cinema. I want to find a similar voice here in India — to create that kind of support system and community for experimental cinema. And honestly, it’s easier now than it was before. Slowly, spaces are opening for different voices and styles.