Gola Dreams

Directed by Pankaj Rishi Kumar · 51 min

Gola Dreams' journeys into the heart of Gola Gokarannath, a “Choti Kashi” in Uttar Pradesh, during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Through the lives of Surendra, a Dalit reporter with a near-invisible YouTube channel; Imran, an idealistic auto driver; and the town’s young army aspirants, the film uncovers stories of disenchantment, resilience, and hope. Against a backdrop of rallies, a defunct sugar mill, and a carnival-like mela, the film reveals a democracy both vibrant and broken. As rain floods polling day, 'Gola Dreams' becomes a lyrical meditation on aspiration, marginalisation, and the fragile promises of India’s electoral theatre.