THE ELEPHANT WHISPERERS - Academy Award Winning Documentary
This is the story of the bonding of one orphaned baby elephant with his new human companions and the intelligence, and strong communal bonds of his entire species as it searches for sustenance and survival in a shrinking habitat.
The film then broadens its focus to look at the future of all elephants in South India and the human communities that share or border elephant territory. How can these two communities that share so many traits of intelligence, strong social bonds, humour, play, grief, etc. learn to live safely side by side? It will also look at ways tribals have co-existed with elephants for centuries.
This documentary will shift the emphasis from fight and struggle to bond and coexistence. Sacred Bond is an emotional drama that focuses on the raising of an orphaned baby elephant and the strong bonds he forms with the human community that nurtures and trains him.
My goal is to bring local stories to life that will drive change and have lasting impact on the world which will reach audiences and inspire them to fall in love with these ,majestic beings and to better understand them. Every compelling story we tell can inspire people to take up personal action.
Type : Social documentary / Wildlife Conservation ; Role : Film Director, Co Producer, Second Cinematographer
On the Brink - Animal Planet & Discovery Channel
Nestled in the Zabarwan mountains in Kashmir, is the Dachigam National Park. This beautiful forest with its oak patches and alpine grasslands is home for the Asiatic Black Bear and one of the best places in the world to see this animal. Over the last few decades, demographic and land use changes around the landscape have led to an increase in human-bear conflict. Malaika Vaz teams up with forest ranger Nazir Mallik, to get up close with the bears and explore their world.
Amidst the serene mountains and the calming sound of flowing water in Kashmir, resides conflict. The picturesque Valley, home to the Asiatic Black Bear, is in trouble as proximity between man and animal decreases. With the Moon Bear moving into the Vulnerable category of the IUCN Red List, it is time to mitigate the conflict and propagate a peaceful co-existence between the Black Bear and its human neighbours. Watch #OnTheBrink on Animal Planet India to know more about the fascinating bear on 17th December at 9 PM. The show is brought to you by HCL, in association with The Habitats Trust.
On The Brink’ for Animal Planet/Discovery Channel presented by HCL & The Habitats Trust is to raise awareness about the importance and the urgency of animal conservation in India. The 8-episode series shot across the country, journeys through India, capturing the most incredible landscapes and habitats and coming eye-to-eye with the rarely spotted animals that live there. The species to be covered in Season 1 of the series include Red Panda, Fishing Cats, Slender Loris and Bengal Tiger. The show will also share stories of hope, of solutions and of the courageous men and women at the forefront of the battle to save these species from extinction.
Nomination for the Asiatic Black Bear Episode at the IMF - International Mountain Film Festival 2019
Role : 2nd Cinematographer ; Aired on Television : Animal Planet / Discovery Channel
Category : Nonprofits & Activism ; HCL Enterprise ; Published on Dec 11, 2018
Restoration of Oak Forests for Community Development in Uttarakhand, India
The livelihoods of communities living in the harsh, mountainous landscape of the Himalaya are under threat from the effects of changing climate. Loss of broad-leaved forests and their subsequent replacement by pine is seen by the community as a cause for increased vulnerability to threats such as floods, landslides and fires. Oak forests have been shown to improve water quality and biodiversity, and play an integral role in meeting the community’s needs. The project seeks to increase forest cover by planting a native species of Oak, Banj Oak, on parcels of community forest lands. Other project activities include soil and water conservation, fire prevention activities, cultivation of fodder grass for livestock and other activities to address improved livelihoods of the community.
Background of Project & Benefits
The extent of forests under pine is increasing, at the cost of other species such as Oak. Among the many virtues of pine, it is also known to affect groundwater levels and is an aggressive species that spreads quickly. Its needles are not broken down easily or eaten, and this causes water runoff and makes the area prone to fires. Oaks, including Banj Oak, are immensely important species for rural livelihoods, groundwater and biodiversity and hence calls for an urgent need to increase the forest cover under Oak and other broad-leaved species in the Himalaya.
The project aims to restore broad-leaved Oak forests on open and degraded Van Panchayat lands, through a scalable and replicable model. In this project, 500 ha of land will be planted with Oak. The project is spread over 30 villages and 3 districts in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Phase 2 of this project will spread to over 2000 HA of land. Increased forest cover of oak trees leads to better water retention and improvement in the quality and quantity of groundwater and springs. Carbon is sequestered in the trees and in the soil. The local community benefits from employment creation and enhancement of technical skills during project implementation and monitoring. Cultivation of fodder grasses and other activities lead to improved incomes and reduced time and effort spent in grazing livestock.
Expanding the Oak Afforestation in Himalayan Region through Communities: Leading towards Ownership and Sustainability, VNV Advisory Services initiates a community based afforestation project in collaboration with CHEA for planting of over 1 million trees in the Kumoan region of the Himalayas spanning around 1300 acres - working with over 120 self help groups across 40 forest clusters (Van Panchayats)
Position : Director & Director of Photography
'My Mollem : Goa's Green Heart' : Goans Fight to Save Their Forest and Livelihood
During the COVID-19 lockdown, the Goa government passed three big infrastructure projects namely, a 400 kv transmission line, a highway and a railway project. Now, if these were to be realised, they can irrevocably change the face and future of Goa. Over 51 million tonnes of coal will be transported from Mormugao Port through protected areas like Mollem National Park and rural villages to industries in Karnataka. This can destroy the biological diversity of Goa. The film has been made by Future Films.in. It is a collective of filmmakers who are concerned about the planet’s future, including the welfare of future generations and wildlife.
https://www.thequint.com/videos/protests-in-goa-to-save-mollem-national-park-save-goa
Position : contributed wildlife clips in cinematography
Metaphor Island - Patterns for Survival from the Nilgiri Highlands
Indigenous peoples all over the planet have always said that mountains are alive; rivers are sentient; and that the lands have an intelligence. So far, this has not been accepted in science, and much of human civilization is built on the destructive utilization of land-bases and more. Could uncovering this fundamental relation in nature, help at this time when life on the planet is being gravely endangered? The Ecological and social crises that engulf the planet are intensifying. As we deny the consequences of the disruptions we cause, and promote inadequate solutions, we lose grip on the extent of change needed globally. Perhaps we will only listen if a voice from nature speaks out explicitly. Based on seven years of in-depth research, Godwin Vasanth Bosco finds that a remarkable mountainous landscape in India, called the Nilgiris, is actively―with volition―showing us the way forward. Metaphor Island captures the colossal story of this landscape through images and writing. It is an explication of the stark patterns and messages from the mountains that will pique the interests of scientists, policy makers, students and anyone interested in social and environmental change.
Position : Director of Photography - contributed to the making of this promo & wildlife images to the making of this book