Private Project

Main Thansu Dur Nahi

Main Thansu Dur Nahi, meticulously unveils the remarkable life journey of His Late Highness Maharaja Hanwant Singh Ji of Jodhpur (1923-1952), the last ruling Maharaja of Jodhpur (Marwar), intricately interwoven with the vibrant tapestry of Jodhpur, a city he deeply cherished. The film puts a light on how His Late Highness Maharaja Hanwant Singh Ji ascended to the throne of Jodhpur in 1947, at a crucial juncture in India's history when the country was on the brink of independence from British rule. He played a significant role in the integration of princely states into the newly formed Indian Union, willingly merging Jodhpur into the Dominion of India. Anchoring the narrative is his invaluable contribution in the field of Education, Aviation, Agriculture, Leadership, Kinship, etc. that continue to shape young minds. The aviation segment accentuates his enterprising spirit, narrating his fascination with flying and his role in promoting aviation in India. Through well-structured chapters, the film also delves into pivotal aspects of his life. The initial chapter explores his birth, tracing the lineage and heritage that shaped his identity. The film then elegantly transitions into the marriage chapter, illuminating the role of matrimony in his personal growth and the significance of alliances in royal traditions.

Against the backdrop of Jodhpur's breathtaking landscapes, the documentary paints a vivid picture of his intrinsic connection with the city. Each chapter unveils his personality and deep-rooted commitment to preserving the cultural legacy of Jodhpur. With archival footage, interviews, documents, letters and expert insights, the film not only memorializes His Late Highness Maharaja Hanwant Singh Ji's life but also offers an evocative exploration of Jodhpur's historical and cultural evolution. His untimely demise was a great loss not only to his family and the people of Jodhpur but also to the broader cultural and historical legacy of Rajasthan.

This documentary serves as a tribute to his enduring influence and sheds light on the symbiotic relationship between an extraordinary individual and the city that bore witness to his impactful journey. Despite his brief time as ruler, he left an indelible mark on the region's history and is remembered for his efforts towards progress and modernization.

  • Abhimanyu Kanodia
    Director
    Kathakaar, Noor-E-Mayoor, Truce, Tape, Sau Gram Zindagi, Abhineta
  • Abhimanyu Kanodia
    Writer
    Kathakaar, Noor-E-Mayoor, Truce, Tape, Abhineta
  • Mehrangarh Museum Trust
    Producer
  • HH Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodhpur
    Key Cast
  • HH Maharani Hemlata Rajye of Jodhpur
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    मैं थांसूं दूर नहीं 
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    45 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 20, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    English, Hindi, Rajasthani
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 18th Mumbai International Film Festival 2024
    Mumbai
    India
    June 19, 2024
    Maharashtra Premiere
    Competition (Official Selection)
  • 16th Jaipur International Film Festival, 2024
    Jaipur
    India
    February 12, 2024
    Rajasthan Premiere
    Top Documentary Award from Rajasthan
Director Biography - Abhimanyu Kanodia

Born at Ajmer, Rajasthan on 31st December, 1988. After completing class 12th from Mayoor School (Ajmer), he moved to Mumbai (India), to take up Chartered Accountancy course and completed it in year 2013. In 2013, he joined Mumbai based film school, Whistling Woods International to study filmmaking. He graduated in July 2015 with a major in Film Direction.

A film school graduate, Abhimanyu is a competent filmmaker having experience in writing and directing Web Series, Short Films, Documentaries, TV commercials, Brand Films, Music Videos and Educational Courses. He is hardworking, eager to learn, self-motivated and result oriented person with good leadership qualities. He is currently working as a freelance Writer-Director based out of Mumbai. He specializes in Visual Story-telling that includes developing content, visualizing it and ultimately presenting the final product on screen across various formats such as Web Series, Short Films, TV Commercials, Brand Films, Music Videos, Digital Ads, Digital Videos, and Documentary.

His short film KATHAKAAR, featuring Piyush Mishra in the lead role has achieved a rare feat of being a Semi-Finalist in the Foreign Narrative category of the 43rd Annual Student Academy Awards, Oscars, 2016. Among 1,749 films that were submitted to the Student Academy this year, Kathakaar made it in roughly the top 5% of all films submitted. The film has also qualified as a Finalist at the Jio Filmfare Short Film Awards, 2017. On top of that it has won 20 awards including 3 international awards and has been officially selected in more than 50 film festivals across the globe.

Kathakaar has bagged prestigious awards at renowned film festivals such as 5th Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival, 5th Washington D.C. South Asian Film Festival, Washington D.C., II International Motivational Film Festival, Russia and 6th Jagran Film Festival, Mumbai. In December 2016, Kathakaar was released on HOTSTAR and WWI FILMS YouTube channel simultaneously. Till now it has aggregated more than 745,000 views on YouTube and is still going strong.

In 2015, Abhimanyu was selected to participate in an International film making program called Looking China, jointly established by Beijing Normal University and International Data Group (IDG), the Institute for International Communication of Chinese Culture. Abhimanyu travelled to Xiamen, China and stayed there for a period of 16 days in July, 2015, at the Xiamen University and made a short documentary titled BEYOND THE TIDES. The documentary was officially selected and screened at the Chinese American Film Festival, 2015, held in California, USA. It was also screened at Xiamen University, China.

After Kathakaar, Abhimanyu went on to make some of the extremely successful and acclaimed professional short films, JANGLE BELLS (2015), MTV ABHINETA (2017), QUEEN OF HEARTS (2016), TAPE: A LOVE STORY (2019) and TRUCE (2020). He has also made three acclaimed documentaries- NOOR-E-MAYOOR (2022), RAJESH DEEWANA (2017) & BEYOND THE TIDES (2015) and many successful Music Videos like TUM BHI NA (2016), KAHE KOI AANSOO (2020), TERA KYA HOTA x NENE LEKUNTE MASHUP (2020) and O BANDEYA (2020). He has also worked as a director on various TV Commercials/Brand films. In January 2021, he directed a Web Series for Dice Media titled, FIRSTS: SEASON 5 (2021). His other shorts films are SAU GRAM ZINDAGI (2020), TERA YAAR HU MAIN (2020), MERI PEHLI BIKE (2020), NICE TO MEET YOU (2020).

His films have been selected in over 65 international and national film festivals, winning over 25 awards. The combined YouTube, Facebook and Instagram views of all his work stands at more than 30 Million.

Abhimanyu has successfully collaborated with renowned film and media personalities like Piyush Mishra, Radhika Apte, Darshan Jariwala, Smita Jayakar, Namit Das, Monali Thakur, Sumeet Vyas, Manasi Parekh, Vipin Sharma, Vatsal Sheth, Mukti Mohan, Smita Bansal, Saurabh Dubey, Deepti Devi, Priya Banerjee and Shruti Vyas on various projects. He has worked with Mr. Subhash Ghai's film production company Mukta Arts Ltd, MTV India, Voot, Hotstar, Dice Media, The Zoom Studios, Scroll India, Songfest India, Being Indian, Looking China and Humari Film Company on various projects.

Abhimanyu has written and directed 10 hours of online Direction Course Material for Whistling Woods International’s online learning platform ‘WWI VIRTUAL ACADEMY 2019’.

Abhimanyu Kanodia is also a guest faculty at Whistling Woods International, for imparting lectures on various aspects of Film Writing and Directing.

Abhimanyu has conducted Filmmaking Talks & Workshops across India at prestigious schools like Mayo College Ajmer, Mayoor School Ajmer, Mayoor School Chopasni Jodhpur, Sunshine Worldwide School Goa, Oberoi International School, Mumbai to name a few.

He was invited as a Judge on various prestigious film festivals like The Mumbai Fest, International Short Film Festival and Film General Championship at IIT Mumbai.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As the director of this captivating historical documentary, “Main Thansu Dur Nahi” on the life and legacy of Maharaja Hanwant Singh and rich history of Marwar, Rajasthan, I embarked on a journey to delve deep into the contributions made by Maharaja Hanwant Singh (1923-1952) and the Rathore Clan of Marwar for their motherland, unravelling its vibrant history and timeless tales that have shaped its identity.

This film is not just a visual ode to the past; it is a bridge that connects the rich legacy of Marwar with the contemporary India/world. It is a tribute to the enduring cultural wealth that continues to inspire, educate, and resonate across generations.

Against the backdrop of Jodhpur's breathtaking landscapes, the documentary paints a vivid picture of Maharaja Hanwant Singh’s intrinsic connection with the city. Each chapter unveils his personality and deep-rooted commitment to preserving the cultural legacy of Jodhpur. With archival footage, interviews, documents, letters and expert insights, the film not only memorializes Maharaja Hanwant Singh’s life but also offers an evocative exploration of Jodhpur's historical and cultural evolution. His untimely demise was a great loss not only to his family and the people of Jodhpur but also to the broader cultural and historical legacy of Rajasthan.

Through this film, From the majestic forts that stand as sentinels of time to the spirited folk music echoing through the golden dunes, every frame encapsulates the essence of Marwar’s cultural brilliance.

The film also puts a light on how Maharaja Hanwant Singh ascended to the throne of Jodhpur in 1947, at a crucial juncture in India's history when the country was on the brink of independence from British rule. He played a significant role in the integration of princely states into the newly formed Indian Union, willingly merging Jodhpur into the Dominion of India. Anchoring the narrative is his invaluable contribution in the field of Education, Aviation, Agriculture, Leadership, Kinship, etc. that continue to shape young minds. The aviation segment accentuates his enterprising spirit, narrating his fascination with flying and his role in promoting aviation in India.

Our team was driven by a passion to preserve and share the narratives that often remain untold, celebrating the artisans, performers, historians, and local individuals whose lives are interwoven with Marwar’s cultural fabric. Through their stories, we paint a canvas that speaks volumes about the indomitable spirit and the profound resilience of Marwar's heritage and the Brave Rathore Clan.

Ultimately, my aspiration as a director was to craft a cinematic experience that not only informs but also fosters an emotional connection, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the captivating saga of Maharaja Hanwant Singh of Marwar, Rajasthan, and to appreciate the significance of safeguarding such invaluable cultural treasures for posterity.

The film sheds light on the symbiotic relationship between an extraordinary individual and the city that bore witness to his impactful journey. Despite his brief time as ruler, he left an indelible mark on the region's history and is remembered for his efforts towards progress and modernization.