Riding Solo to the top of the World - An insane travel film
I love travel documentaries. With the number of travel channels around these days, there is always a travel themed show on air. Sure, these shows have their element of engagement. But these shows are more like the travelogues you read in newspapers or tabloids - offering you a very narrow view of some parts of a particular place. If a travel documentary goes beyond scratching the surface, and gives me insights into a place in the same way that say a book on a particular destination would (and I don't mean Lonely Planet type guides), I feel that is time well spent.
Riding Solo, a one-man documentary about this maverick Gaurav Jani's journey from Mumbai to a remote corner in the Ladakhi region, is one such travel film which you wish never ended. Not only does Jani ride solo through the entire 2-month long journey, but also shoots the entire journey on his video camera. And if you are thinking that he has shot from only one perspective - a la a head-mounted GoPro Hero - then you are in for a surprise. It has been shot like any biker documentary would - with long sweeping panoramic shots, approaching shots, departing shots. All done with a dogged perseverance.
There are hardly any adjectives I consider worthy enough to describe the beauty of Leh and Ladakh. While there are countless resources which will show you photographs and panoramic landscapes from this region, Riding Solo goes beyond the tried and tested tourist trap visuals. This I believe is what separated this documentary film on Ladakh from any other I may have seen before.
Jani has a set route. Delhi - Manali - Leh. Did I hear you say, "Meh, that is a common route?" Well, that is just the beginning. From Leh, Jani has decided to head to the Changthang plateau, which lies between the Karakoram range in the north and Himalayan range in the south.
Jani not only travels from one place to the next, but actually spends time staying with people. The Changthang plateau, which comprises the Changpa semi-nomadic Tibetan tribe are the main protagonists of this film. It is the time he spends with the Changpa community that truly makes this documentary worthwhile.
It is not all roses, as Jani also documents moments in the journey where altitude sickness took him over. You can see him in some frames, completely frustrated because the altitude sickness makes him lose concentration. But thankfully, it does not translate into anything serious.
I had many takeaways from the film. I got an insight into the hardships faced by the nomadic tribes, how they live on minimal means and how limited their belongings are. It is a tough life, but these tribes have been at it for generations. For a city person like me, it is difficult to relate to that kind of lifestyle. It made me think of the things we have taken for granted here. It reminded me of the time I am in Masure, my ancestral home, where our city problems seem so immature to the hardships faced by the locals. We are always cribbing about something or the other, till we see how lucky we are.
Riding Solo touches upon various aspects of the Changpa life such as community, food, culture, how they earn their livelihood, the importance of their livestock, how they build structures to battle against the cold winds, how they are self sufficient and so on. Jani just stays for days with these tribes, observing their life and thereby giving us a peep into the life of a nomad. The section where he accompanies the Changpas to a 3-day community praying session is particularly fascinating. Finally, Jani ending his journey by going to this remote town called Chumur, makes you feel happy for him as well.
The landscapes shown in the documentary are vast and seem to go on and on. For miles you cannot see a soul. I was taken back to my Valley of Flowers journey, where after a point in the valley, I could see stretches of greenery with no one in sight. Being in such places is nothing short of meditation for me. It gives you a good idea of who you are, in the overall scheme of things. It is a humbling experience. Time seems to slow down in such lovely places. One is at complete peace with self. Jani puts it succintly when he says:
"This is Changthang. It is like entering a vast open cathedral of silence"
Although from the looks of it, it might seem that Riding Solo is made primarily for the biker community, it does appeal to any travel enthusiast. After a point in the documentary, the biker and his bike, get completely side-lined as the exploration of life in Changthang valley and the nomadic lives of Changpa tribes take over.
The film just reiterates the fact that there is so much to see in India. It celebrates those of us, who like exploring newer destinations and getting lost to discover travel gems. A celebration of travel, a celebration of life!
For trailers and buying the DVD head here: http://dirttrackproductions.com/ridingsolo.html