In 2021, filmmaker Neha Dixit from Nainital, Uttarakhand, set out on a trail to the snow-clad Himalayas to track down a ‘ghost’ — a moniker given to the elusive musk deer. The locals have a more forgiving name for it — ‘Kasturi’.
Neha wanted to film the story from a lens that tapped into the animal’s ecological role beyond the allure of its musk (sourced from a pouch in its abdomen). And she succeeded. In Search of Kasturi tells a visceral and confronting story of this 25 million-year-old species (according to fossil records). The musk deer is camera-shy. So, when it finally decides to make a cameo, I celebrate. Neha has finally found Kasturi.
“These are exactly the kind of stories we want to tell,” points out filmmaker Samreen Farooqui of Roundglass Sustain — a digital encyclopedia dedicated to India’s biodiversity. The initiative-backed films go beyond sparking wanderlust, they also drive impact. “The world is changing fast. We see storytelling and filmmaking as engaging the audience about what needs to be saved. That responsibility lies with a filmmaker. Because what they are essentially doing is chronicling our Earth for generations to come.”
That being said, Samreen adds that the essence of a film is amplified when the story is embedded in the environment of the filmmaker. Because they bring a unique and personal lens to the story. Roundglass Sustain, she points out, is simply visualising these powerful narratives.
1. In Search of Kasturi: Capturing the story of the musk deer
Neha’s feet ached as she crouched behind a snow-covered bush in the Himalayan highlands, awaiting the musk deer. But, neither the sub-zero temperatures nor the treacherous terrain could deter her. She was there with a rock-solid mission. She wanted to capture the musk deer on camera.
“We went in aware that even people who’ve lived there for decades have not seen the animal. It being crepuscular (active in twilight) means a limited number of hours in which it can be spotted. And, the trickiest part of the filming process was this short window of time. We were hyper-focused, trying to spot any signs of movement.”
During their time there, Neha and her crew heard locals recount stories of how the musk deer, classified as ‘endangered’ on the IUCN Red List, often becomes the target of hunters. “Along with musk, the hunters are also looking for bear bile — touted to have medicinal value,” they were told.
2. Bugun and a Forest of Hope: Saving the Bugun Liocichla
The communities in Singchung, Arunachal Pradesh stir with excitement every time a certain babbler with olive-grey plumage and a black cap flies past them. They haven’t gotten over the fact that the Bugun Liocichla (Liocichla bugunorum) is only found here and nowhere else in the world. The bird was identified by Dr Ramana Athreya, an astronomer and ecologist from Pune, in 1996. He scientifically documented them as a new species in 2006.
Now filmmaker Shaleena Phinya’s documentary is shining the spotlight on the species. Her foray into wildlife filmmaking marks a first for her Bugun community; Shaleena is also part of the 10-member forest patrolling team in Singchung Bugun Village Community Reserve (SBVCR).
3. Catapults to Cameras: Tackling illegal hunting through storytelling
Every year thousands of protected animals — think jungle cats, Indian flying foxes and greater coucals, elongated tortoises and long-billed vultures — are massacred as part of an illegal ritualistic hunt in West Bengal. Bows, catapults and spears are used for the deed. Many of these species are at risk of extinction; the hunt is the final blow to their numbers.
Now, award-winning natural history and conservation filmmaker Ashwika Kapur from Kolkata, is attempting to change this reality. She is currently a Director with the BBC Natural History unit. Her documentary, which also won the award for Best Inspirational Film at the New York International Film Awards 2024, doesn’t only shed light on the problem, but also possible solutions.
She explains, “Through wildlife photography, we forever transformed the mindsets of children from hunting communities. They now see wild animals not as prey, but as creatures of beauty to be cherished and protected.” The filmmaking process, she says, didn’t just save wildlife, it changed these children’s lives. “It showed them a new way to connect with the natural world around them.”
Samreen shares that Roundglass Sustain is also working with the youth in these communities and through their workshops, encouraging them to stand in solidarity with their native wildlife.
4. Wings of Hope: A Bustling Village and Their Bird Friends
“Menar is proof that conservation doesn’t always have to come from big organisations or governments. Real change can start with a community that decides to take care of its backyard,” says Gunjan Menon about the Rajasthan village that she featured in her documentary Wings of Hope: A Bustling Village and Their Bird Friends.
Her films have won over 32 International awards and nominations across 13 countries for their powerful narratives which touch upon conservation and human-wildlife coexistence. A believer that impact following a film shouldn’t be didactic, but spark real change on the ground, Gunjan says Menar is a perfect example. The village has become a mecca for thousands of resident and migratory birds.
“The Menarias have completely taken ownership of their wetlands. They welcome the birds like honoured guests and protect them fiercely. The way they talk about the birds, you can tell they see them as part of their identity. They actively patrol the area to prevent illegal hunting and educate tourists on how to respect the birds and their habitat. They’ve also built an eco-tourism model that protects the wetlands, and they lobbied to get their Menar lake the official wetland status, strengthening their protection status,” Gunjan explains.
The reason the model is exemplary is because of the Pakshi Mitras (designated bird friends). One of them, Darshan Menaria, says, “We do not encourage hunting. Even when people from outside visit the village, they do not hunt.” The Pakshi Mitras are routinely trained on bird behaviour by the Forest Department. Her powerful storytelling on the subject won Gunjan the Audience Choice Award at the Jackson Wild Film Festival in 2023.
Edited by Megha Chowdhury
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