Immerse in these films in Mumbai to explore the lives of Indian eco-warriors

A moment from Mulsotan

Complete silence for two minutes that felt like an eternity. That's how Gujarat-based filmmaker Janantik Shukla describes the mood in south Gujarat's Dediapada taluka when the credits rolled at the first screening of his film, Mulsotan. Shukla's story dates back to the 1980s, when the Sardar Sarovar Dam project threatened to displace tribal life. The town came together to etch a tale that involves GPS technology, Gandhian principles, and unshakeable determination.

The crew works behind the scenes on the sets of Mulsotan in (right) Dediapada, Gujarat. PICS COURTESY/JANANTIK SHUKLA

"I didn't think this film would make it out of Gujarat," says Shukla, who first stepped into the now lush green town in 2021. Tipped off by social workers Trupti and Ambrish Mehta about the movement, Shukla's job was to bring to screen a story that hadn't found many readers in a book with the same story. "Tribal youth was not going to read a book to know what their ancestors had been through. We needed a visual story," he shares.

Through archival footage, interactions with village elders, and panoramic drone shots, the 28-minute film becomes Dediapada's visual journal. A pivotal movement comes when nearly 4000 farmers use GPS-enabled instruments with assistance from the Mehtas to meticulously map out their farmlands, many of which are still in review. The non-violent, democratic revolt has ensured the vast green cover in Dediapada remains intact. It makes for a worthwhile visit this monsoon, Shukla suggests.

A Vasava tribal

With the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor, aka the debated Bullet Train project gathering steam, the filmmaker admits the relevance of the film persists, albeit unfortunately. In this writer's hometown of Dahanu, a stone's throw away from south Gujarat, giant concrete boulders mushrooming in thick wild forests stand as testament to Shukla's concern. "Books and films are great. But the way ahead is youth participation. Without it, these three decades of work stand the risk of being undone in 15 years," he rues.

The young protagonists of Catapults to Camera. PIC COURTESY/ROUNDGLASS SUSTAIN

Hope is not lost, neither is it far away. Look eastward and you'll see filmmaker Ashwika Kapur's film, Catapults to Camera, that has turned into a youth movement off screen. The Green Oscar-winning filmmaker's documentary began as an attempt to chronicle the rampant hunting culture in Jhargram, West Bengal. Things took a turn when Kapur spoke with young residents Raja, Ajay, Surajit, Tarash and Lalu; it revealed the disturbing normalisation of hunting for recreation among young boys.

Janantik Shukla

"When I see a bird, I kill it with a catapult," says Raja, while Tarash beams with pride while describing the killing of a snake in the documentary. It's hard to believe that the same children have now turned lensmen. Armed with their traditional knowledge of the forests, they are now shooting the diverse wildlife, this time through their lens. With a structured programme in place now, Raja and his friends have turned mentors for others in the village.

Kapur and Shukla's inspiring success stories will find a screen in Mumbai amid a slew of big-ticket, massy, Bollywood melodramas ruling mainstream screens; many of them running houseful. We can only hope Mumbaikars make the wiser choice today.

How to get to Dediapada

Road: Take the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway (NH 48) and drive northwards into Gujarat. Take the exit in Palsana to NH53. Exit to SH88 in Bardoli and follow the route to Chikda. Turn left to Dediapada.

Rail: Board a train to the closest railway station, Bharuch. A two-hour drive will lead you to Dediapada.

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