Dharamsala’s Chokkas bags ‘Kala Gaurav Award’
Bringing accolades to the entire state, Dharamsala’s Chokkas Bhaardwaj, has been awarded the ‘Kala Gaurav Award-2024’ as the best production designer and art director.
Need to preserve cultural heritage
There is no appreciation for creativity in Himachal. I get worried seeing the disregard for the rich art and cultural heritage that the state is bestowed with. — Chokkas Bhaardwaj, Art director
The Marathi Chitrapat Association, Mumbai, has conferred the award in recognition of his contributions to the field of art direction over the last 35 years. Chokkas is currently engaged in several projects, and is even helping many others in finding a livelihood in Mumbai.
While talking exclusively to The Tribune, Chokkas recounted his journey in the past 35 years, saying it was filled with struggle and determination.
“I first reached ‘Maya Nagri’ from the small hill town of Dharamsala in 1989. I stepped into the world of set design at a time when there were limited opportunities and tight budget. I have been fortunate to manage a space as Art Director and Production Designer in Indian TV and Film industry,” he stated.
Chokkas said the many challenges only fuelled his determination to chase creativity, and every subsequent project became a stepping stone. “It has been a fulfilling and transformative journey,” he noted.
After working as an Assistant Art Director for movies like ‘Kareeb’ and ‘1942: A Love Story’; he became an Independent Production Designer with the movie ‘Hazaar Chaurasi ki Maa’. He had begun his career in TV with ‘Amanat’. Now, after almost 100 projects under his wing, he has started producing TV shows and regional movies.
However, Chokkas lamented that there was no appreciation for creativity in Himachal. “I get worried seeing the disregard for the rich art and cultural heritage that the state is bestowed with,” he added.
The art director has also produced many short films on tribal culture in a bid to preserve the rich lifestyle of the ‘gaddi’ community for the present and future generations.
Nitin Dhavane Patil (Director), Prashant Mankar (Director), Mohan Das (Director) and Riju Bajaj and Ram Gopal Bajaj from Marathi Chitrapath Association were also present on the occasion.
