A Himalayan experience

Starting today ‘Way Back Home’ takes you on a Himalayan journey encompassing seven valleys

November 25, 2014 06:39 pm | Updated 06:39 pm IST

A still from 'Way Back Home'

A still from 'Way Back Home'

This Wednesday, get ready to pack your bags to go on a Himalayan expedition. Way Back Home starting today at 8 p.m. on Pepsi MTV Indies promises an exhilarating experience for viewers. To be produced by Shoelace Films (A Mumbai-based company with its roots in Hyderabad), the production is a first person account of Rohan Thakur, who sets out on this unique journey. There will be music, lots of personal stories and breathtaking visuals, say the makers.

For executive producer Asad Abid, the series paves the way for a new beginning. “We have been doing commissioned projects till now and this is our debut production,” he says excitedly. “Unlike other travel series on television which tell the viewers ‘do this or do that’, this series’ high point is that one can resonate and relate to it,” he adds. The creative team includes Rohan Thakur who has anchored, given music and has co-directed the show with Bharati Bahrani, the director and writer.

Having majored in Digital Video Production, Bharati brings in her experience as a script supervisor in Hindi films, to the show. “All the different things that I’ve learnt over the past few years have come together in this one project, especially the technical stuff like edit patterns and shot breakdowns, but more importantly - how to tell a story,” she says.

It was literally going back home for Rohan, who is from Himachal Pradesh. “Even though I spent my childhood in Manali, I was sent off to a boarding school quite early in Mussoorie. I have always been away from home all my life. This project gave me a chance to uncover my backyard and truly delve into the mountain life,” says Rohan with a smile.

With original background score, the first episode introduces Rohan on his bus ride from Delhi. His journey takes him to his hometown, Manali and travels up to the far-flung areas of Leh and Ladakh. Inclement weather, hair-pin curves and turns, rocky routes and thrills and chills unlimited have been Rohan’s companions for four months. “I wasn’t all alone on this particular (WBH) journey. I had Bharati with me throughout the trip and my little sister during our last leg in Ladakh,” he recalls.

Ask him about the best moments and he pauses for a second. “I think the episode in the village of Sangla in Kinnaur was pretty exciting as I really got to connect with the people through Holi which is celebrated in ‘Full Power’. Spiti was just magical. I met young monks, farmed with yaks, went for a small village function involving just women… I witnessed an action-packed hunt on my way to Kugti village in Chamba valley. They were pretty crazy moments.”

There were some challenging moments for the duo. “Once we climbed up to the village of Malana when the sun had gone down. We went up on a narrow zigzagging one foot wide path, in the middle of a snow storm. We couldn’t really shoot while we were climbing up but this was definitely one of the toughest, albeit stupidest things we’ve ever done,” laughs Bharati. Chips in Rohan, “Well, not really challenges but the cold over a span of four months can get to you. I remember this one time shooting an Astral time lapse at night from my room window with temperatures way below freezing and winds so high. An Astral time lapse takes anywhere between three to four hours and I had to sit tight with my window open throughout. It was a ‘numb’ night for me in the village of Kibber (Spiti) which I think is also one of the highest villages in the world.”

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