UK Sikh filmmaker officially Selected For International Film Festival
BY / IN EUROPE, WORLD / SEPTEMBER 19, 2015
London, UK (September 19, 2015)—The film ‘Hola Mahalla: The Forgotten Festival‘ has officially been selected for the 3rd Indian Cine Film Festival (ICFF-15), the Mumbai based film festival takes place Saturday the 19th of September 2015.
The documentary film has been produced by British production company DS Creations and directed by Bradford based filmmaker Darshan Singh.
Co-funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign, the film explores the little known Sikh festival Hola Mahalla and can be ordered on DVD or streamed online via VOD from www.holamahalla.com
Hola Mahalla
The Forgotten Festival
Little is known about Hola Mahalla, the ancient Indian festival that celebrates that martial prowess of Sikhs. The festival takes place annually in India. Dubbed the Sikh Olympics, Hola Mahalla sees days of sword fights, daring horse stunts and more, all wrapped up in spiritualism.
 Synopsis:
This immersive documentary focusses on the festival Hola Mahalla that has been running since the 17th century. It showcases skills such as swordsmanship and daring horse stunts and other skills that are maintained by an ever decreasing number of nomadic Sikhs.
A cross between Wild China and 300, the film offers a historical insight into a festival rarely experienced outside of India. It explores why it was essential for this small community to be skilled warriors and how they were able to combat huge armies even when outnumbered.
The viewer is transported into the past as the film follows Sikh battalions carrying out mock battles, with elephants, horses and a plethora of weapons, all conducted by modern day warriors skilled in ancient arts, creating a spectacular show unlike anything else on earth.
For more information and to see a trailer of the film go to
www.holamahalla.com