Borderlands
Director: Samarth Mahajan
Country: India
Languages: Bengali, Nepali, Manipuri, Hindi, Punjabi (with subtitles)
Duration: 67 minutes
Year: 2021
Borderlands is a powerful documentary that quietly strips away the abstraction of “borders” and allows us to see their deeply human consequences. Set along the geopolitical edges of the Indian subcontinent—in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar—the film brings together voices of individuals whose lives unfold in the shadow of these divisions. From families separated by barbed wire to survivors rebuilding their lives, to activists working against human trafficking, the documentary reveals how borders are experienced by some not as lines on maps but as everyday realities. Rather than centering state power or geopolitical strategy, Borderlands turns its attention to the intimate textures of lived experience. Through quiet conversations and moments of reflection, the film weaves together stories of love, labour, loss, and resilience. In doing so, it reminds us that while borders attempt to divide and define, the human stories that emerge around them are far more complex and interconnected. The film won the award for Best Editing in non-feature category at the 68th National Film Awards in India, 2022, the Jury Award for Best Documentary at the DC South Asian Film Festival 2022, and the Gold Award for Best Documentary at the 13th Indian Documentary Producers’ Association Awards, 2024.
About the Director
Samarth Mahajan
Samarth Mahajan is a Mumbai-based filmmaker, passionate about telling human stories that remain invisible to the mainstream. His work includes two national award-winning documentaries. The recent feature Borderlands explores lives defined by India’s borders, and the 2018 film The Unreserved captures stories from the general compartments of trains in the Indian Railways. Samarth’s films have been screened across six continents to favourable reviews, and have received broadcast and theatrical releases in India. His projects have featured in major film markets, including the Marché du Film, the business counterpart of the Cannes Film Festival. Recognized by IIT Kharagpur as a Young Alumni Achiever, Samarth’s commercial collaborations include brands like Vice Studios, Applause Entertainment, and Discovery+. He is currently working on his debut fiction short.
Meet the Director!
Samarth Mahajan is visiting the festival on 22 March 2026!