Selected films
See Me, When You Leave
Dir: Dipin Chenayil; 17:37 min; Documentary; India
Kerala, the southernmost state in India, with its lush landscapes, has seen many migrate abroad for work, creating local labor shortages filled by distant migrants. These workers endure isolation, discrimination and uncertainty, often overlooked beyond their labour. Yet, amid struggle, they forge bonds, share stories, and discover solace in fleeting joys.
In the Light of Time
Dir: Amogh Chauhan, Jahnavi Pradeep; 12:15 min; Documentary; India
Centered amidst prehistoric rock art sites along the Indus and Zanskar rivers, the film is a ‘love story’ between past, present and future. This archeological peculiarity in Ladakh is a segue into a time ‘before time’ that begs us to ask: How can artifacts of the past inform our need to create something that will outlast us?
Chains & Wheels
Dir: Jayshankar Ramu, Aryaki; 7:33 min; Documentary; India
The bicycles of Pune City talk.
They talk about their existence and their purpose.
The city, its chaotic traffic and its lacklustre infrastructure looms over them. In the motor-centric city plans; the working-class people of Pune and their bicycles look to reclaim their place on the roads. The people who seem to be a part of the urban transportation plans- but only on paper.
The bicycles of Pune City talk.
They talk of the labour class and revolutions.
One Foot In Front Of The Other
Dir: Basav Biradar; 01:01:46 min; Documentary; India
Four runners decide to run from Bengaluru to Chennai along the highway. The run is not an organised race event, nor is there a material reward at the end of it. The filmmaker follows the runners with his camera to understand their motivations, the physical and mental training, and their friendship.
Sathyappullu-The Magical Grass
Dir: Ramdas Kadavallur; 1:07:08 min; Documentary; India
The alarming unsavoury developments in the socio-political milieu of India in the recent years have dented the confidence of a multitude of Indians who cherish peace and camaraderie. A nation that always upheld secular and democratic values since independence, a large chunk of the people is deeply concerned about the recent attacks on these much cherished ideals! The documentary is a journey through the mindscape of a young women, who is earnestly longing for the true secularism and coexistence of different communities in India.
OUTCAST
Dir: PRINCE P PAPPCHEN; 1:08:05 min; Documentary; India
As part of a voluntary resettlement scheme, a man returns after ten years to a forest village in Wayanad that he had once lived in. The old village is now empty. The place has turned into a forest. This documentary is about remembering the life, the gods, and the people who once existed there.
Inside the forest stands a watchtower
Dir: Biswajit Das; 15:39 min; Documentary; India
An art collective builds a watchtower in a human elephant conflict zone in Assam. But they have never seen an elephant in that area.
Bow Barracks: Beyond the Red Bricks
Dir: Vaidyanath Nishant; 25:25 min; Documentary; India
The 300 year-old city of Kolkata is a place where colonial grandeur meets bustling modernity. But beyond the well-told tales of its food, architecture, and festivals lies a story often overlooked.
End of the Rope
Dir: Aravind Umapathy; 12:13 min; Documentary; India
End of the Rope tenderly portrays a grandson's bond with his grandmother in her final days, exploring love, caregiving, and the quiet acceptance of mortality.
A Brief Moment of Absence
Dir: Saikiran M D; 36:14 min; Documentary; India
“A Brief Moment of Absence” is an intimate travel documentary chronicling a student filmmaker’s solo bicycle journey from Ahmedabad to Wayanad over 62 days. As he rides through the rural heartlands of India's west coast - crossing unfamiliar terrain, navigating language barriers, and embracing the silence of being alone - this film captures more than just a physical journey. It's a personal rite of passage, a farewell to student life, and a bold attempt to reclaim time before adulthood closes in. With raw visuals, quiet introspection, and fleeting encounters, the film becomes a reflection on freedom, fear, and the in-between space we often ignore - the space just before we arrive home.
Seed Stories
Dir: Chitrangada Choudhury; 42:00 min; Documentary; India
In a village in the Niyamgiri mountains of the Eastern Ghats in Odisha, eastern India, a heroic effort is underway: barefoot ecologist Dr. Debal Deb and his 3 member-team are conserving over one thousand endangered heirloom varieties of rice, the world’s largest project of its kind. Odisha’s Eastern Ghats region is one of the world’s surviving biodiversity hotspots, with farmers and shifting cultivators, particularly from Adivasi (Indigenous) communities like the Kondhs possessing the knowledge of growing multiple crops with their own heirloom seeds, evolved over centuries. At the same time, the village and the wider region is irreversibly changing with the coming of genetically modified Bt and herbicide-tolerant cotton seeds and associated agrochemicals.
HAPUSA - a truly Indian gin
Dir: Thomas Fitch; 13:43 min; Documentary; India
HAPUSA is a short documentary about India's first domestic gin distillery. The film follows Anand Virmani as he takes us through the beginnings of an idea, the hunt for juniper in India, and the creative process that lead to India’s first domestic award winning gin.
The City Under a Banyan tree
Dir: Soumyanshu Ghosh; 33:29 min; Documentary; India
" The city I grew up in was gone, under layers of constructed conveniences...This bothered me the most."
This documentary film set in the city of Vadodara is a personal observation of how the city changed over the years, from the point of view of someone who was fond of the the iconic public art sculptures across the city. The film delves into a study of how urban development (mainly the building of fly-overs), changed the city scape and displaced famous art pieces that had over time, become the identity of the city. The film also portrays how art itself was evolving along with the infrastructure for better or worse.
A Good Wife
Dir: Anuradha Bansal; 1:30:00 min; Documentary; India
A Good Wife’ is a deeply personal exploration of womanhood, marriage, and freedom within an Indian Marwari Hindu community. As the filmmaker navigates questioning the establishment of marriage in her own setup, she confronts the rigid ideals of a ‘virtuous wife’ imposed by family and tradition. Through intimate filmmaking, she challenges these expectations, exposing contradictions and seeking personal liberation. This film is her attempt to reclaim agency, question inherited beliefs, and spark dialogue on autonomy and identity.
Blurred Boundaries : The Mishmi and the Forest
Dir: Imrana Khan; 13:18 min; Documentary; India
“Blurred Boundaries: The Mishmi and the Forests” is a documentary by Dusty Foot Productions for WCS-India and the Kamlang Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department, exploring the deep connection between the Mishmi people, the forests, and the tigers they revere as kin. The film showcases how tradition and respect for nature can drive meaningful conservation.
The Night That Forgot to End
Dir: Biswajit Das, Surbhi Dewan, Farha Khatun, Nundrisha Wakhloo, Rustam Mazumdar; 22:27 min; Documentary; India
The anthology film brings together five filmmakers exploring a single theme—fear. Through distinct yet interconnected films, each artist uses their lens to interpret fear in a unique voice, contributing to a cohesive narrative that is both personal and collective.
Molai - Man behind the forest
Dir: Dhiraj Kashyap; 20:00 min; Documentary; India
Molai, also known as Jadav Payeng, is a committed environmental and forest activist and wildlife enthusiast from Kokilamukh in Jorhat, Assam. Over several decades, he has planted and tended for trees on the sandbar islet of Aruna Chapori, which lies between the mainland and the river island Majuli, transforming a vast area into a forest reserve since 1980. Jadav Payeng’s sprawling Molai Kathoni (Molai’s Woods) is now a thriving habitat to a large number of birds, animals and insects, including deers, tigers, rhinos, Asiatic buffaloes, monkeys, vultures, snakes, and more. The Molai Reserve, which covers approximately 550 hectares, is home to thousands of trees and more than 100 species of medicinal plants.
Bali
Dir: Amoli Birewar; 25:45 min; Documentary; India
In a small village in Maharashtra, Sujata, a young girl from the Banjara tribe, is at that fleeting age when anything feels possible. She dreams of becoming a kabaddi player, inspired by the movies she loves. But as her school years come to an end, she is pushed toward a forced marriage, like generations of women before her. A district-level tournament becomes her last chance to change her future. As she steps onto the Kabaddi court, Sujata slips into a Bollywood-tinted dream, momentarily becoming the hero of her own story.
Those, revealed on the walls, in a touch
Dir: Anand P Chandran; 28:00 min; Documentary; India
A short documentary capturing the heartfelt journey of a grandson returning home to visit his aging grandmother, who had broken into tears during a phone call longing to see him. The film unfolds as an intimate homecoming, where the camera becomes a quiet observer of the emotional reconnection between the two generations. Through shared meals, everyday conversations, and moments of silence, the grandson begins to rediscover his roots.
Saath Paar Zindagi ( Life Beyond 60 )
Dir: Haider Khan; 1:05:54 min; Documentary; India
Saath Paar Zindagi (Life Beyond 60) is a cinematic tribute to five extraordinary Padma Shri awardee women who have defied societal norms and reshaped traditions through their resilience and courage. Manjamma Jogati (67), Parbati Barua (71), Hirbai Ibrahim Lobi (72), Friederike Irina Bruning (67), and Chutni Mahato (66) come from diverse backgrounds but share an unyielding spirit that has left an indelible mark on society.
Thar: Sacred Groves and Waterscapes
Dir: Pranjal Joshi; 19:59 min; Documentary; India
In a world driven by instant gratification, the stories of communities in and around Orans offer a lasting reminder of the power of nurturing and protecting nature with love and respect. These communities understand that true rewards—such as peace—are beyond the reach of money and haste. Their legacy is the forest and all its wild inhabitants, cherished as vital to ecological balance. From shared groundwater wells that sustain over 100 households without ever being overdrawn, to community-led efforts in wildlife and water conservation, the people in western Rajasthan exemplify a profound, selfless commitment to preserving nature.
Nilgiris: Customs and Culturescapes
Dir: Pranjal Joshi; 19:59 min; Documentary; India
The people of the Nilgiris, nestled in the hills of Southern India, share a deep connection with their land. They have spent centuries understanding the nuances of nature, embracing age-old traditions passed down through generations. One such practice is beekeeping, an integral part of their lives that provides sustenance and forms a unique bond between the people and their environment.
Sundarbans: Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes
Dir: Pranjal Joshi; 18:15 min; Documentary; India
"Sundarbans: Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes” weaves stories of the natural heritage of the largest delta and mangrove forests of the world. In a naturescape where the ground beneath one's feet is constantly fleeting, the forests function as a space that gives generously and takes mercilessly. The confluence of endangered species and unpredictable livelihoods - is a tale that ties faith and ecology, resulting in coexistence amongst vulnerabilities.
Slow Wave
Dir: Pooja Kadam; 9:22 min; Documentary; India
Living in the current times often leaves me questioning “existence.” With existence comes the fear of its absence. The film is a documentation of such an experience and an attempt to pen down fear and loss. It helped me share a dialogue with my parents around unexpressed fears and sorrows hidden deep down, thus opening a channel of accepting the inevitable, death!
Category – Indian Documentary
See Me, When You Leave
Dir: Dipin Chenayil; 17:37 min; Documentary; India
Kerala, the southernmost state in India, with its lush landscapes, has seen many migrate abroad for work, creating local labor shortages filled by distant migrants. These workers endure isolation, discrimination and uncertainty, often overlooked beyond their labour. Yet, amid struggle, they forge bonds, share stories, and discover solace in fleeting joys.
In the Light of Time
Dir: Amogh Chauhan, Jahnavi Pradeep; 12:15 min; Documentary; India
Centered amidst prehistoric rock art sites along the Indus and Zanskar rivers, the film is a ‘love story’ between past, present and future. This archeological peculiarity in Ladakh is a segue into a time ‘before time’ that begs us to ask: How can artifacts of the past inform our need to create something that will outlast us?
Chains & Wheels
Dir: Jayshankar Ramu, Aryaki; 7:33 min; Documentary; India
The bicycles of Pune City talk.
They talk about their existence and their purpose.
The city, its chaotic traffic and its lacklustre infrastructure looms over them. In the motor-centric city plans; the working-class people of Pune and their bicycles look to reclaim their place on the roads. The people who seem to be a part of the urban transportation plans- but only on paper.
The bicycles of Pune City talk.
They talk of the labour class and revolutions.
One Foot In Front Of The Other
Dir: Basav Biradar; 01:01:46 min; Documentary; India
Four runners decide to run from Bengaluru to Chennai along the highway. The run is not an organised race event, nor is there a material reward at the end of it. The filmmaker follows the runners with his camera to understand their motivations, the physical and mental training, and their friendship.
Sathyappullu-The Magical Grass
Dir: Ramdas Kadavallur; 1:07:08 min; Documentary; India
The alarming unsavoury developments in the socio-political milieu of India in the recent years have dented the confidence of a multitude of Indians who cherish peace and camaraderie. A nation that always upheld secular and democratic values since independence, a large chunk of the people is deeply concerned about the recent attacks on these much cherished ideals! The documentary is a journey through the mindscape of a young women, who is earnestly longing for the true secularism and coexistence of different communities in India.
OUTCAST
Dir: PRINCE P PAPPCHEN; 1:08:05 min; Documentary; India
As part of a voluntary resettlement scheme, a man returns after ten years to a forest village in Wayanad that he had once lived in. The old village is now empty. The place has turned into a forest. This documentary is about remembering the life, the gods, and the people who once existed there.
Inside the forest stands a watchtower
Dir: Biswajit Das; 15:39 min; Documentary; India
An art collective builds a watchtower in a human elephant conflict zone in Assam. But they have never seen an elephant in that area.
Bow Barracks: Beyond the Red Bricks
Dir: Vaidyanath Nishant; 25:25 min; Documentary; India
The 300 year-old city of Kolkata is a place where colonial grandeur meets bustling modernity. But beyond the well-told tales of its food, architecture, and festivals lies a story often overlooked.
End of the Rope
Dir: Aravind Umapathy; 12:13 min; Documentary; India
End of the Rope tenderly portrays a grandson's bond with his grandmother in her final days, exploring love, caregiving, and the quiet acceptance of mortality.
A Brief Moment of Absence
Dir: Saikiran M D; 36:14 min; Documentary; India
“A Brief Moment of Absence” is an intimate travel documentary chronicling a student filmmaker’s solo bicycle journey from Ahmedabad to Wayanad over 62 days. As he rides through the rural heartlands of India's west coast - crossing unfamiliar terrain, navigating language barriers, and embracing the silence of being alone - this film captures more than just a physical journey. It's a personal rite of passage, a farewell to student life, and a bold attempt to reclaim time before adulthood closes in. With raw visuals, quiet introspection, and fleeting encounters, the film becomes a reflection on freedom, fear, and the in-between space we often ignore - the space just before we arrive home.
Seed Stories
Dir: Chitrangada Choudhury; 42:00 min; Documentary; India
In a village in the Niyamgiri mountains of the Eastern Ghats in Odisha, eastern India, a heroic effort is underway: barefoot ecologist Dr. Debal Deb and his 3 member-team are conserving over one thousand endangered heirloom varieties of rice, the world’s largest project of its kind. Odisha’s Eastern Ghats region is one of the world’s surviving biodiversity hotspots, with farmers and shifting cultivators, particularly from Adivasi (Indigenous) communities like the Kondhs possessing the knowledge of growing multiple crops with their own heirloom seeds, evolved over centuries. At the same time, the village and the wider region is irreversibly changing with the coming of genetically modified Bt and herbicide-tolerant cotton seeds and associated agrochemicals.
HAPUSA - a truly Indian gin
Dir: Thomas Fitch; 13:43 min; Documentary; India
HAPUSA is a short documentary about India's first domestic gin distillery. The film follows Anand Virmani as he takes us through the beginnings of an idea, the hunt for juniper in India, and the creative process that lead to India’s first domestic award winning gin.
The City Under a Banyan tree
Dir: Soumyanshu Ghosh; 33:29 min; Documentary; India
" The city I grew up in was gone, under layers of constructed conveniences...This bothered me the most."
This documentary film set in the city of Vadodara is a personal observation of how the city changed over the years, from the point of view of someone who was fond of the the iconic public art sculptures across the city. The film delves into a study of how urban development (mainly the building of fly-overs), changed the city scape and displaced famous art pieces that had over time, become the identity of the city. The film also portrays how art itself was evolving along with the infrastructure for better or worse.
A Good Wife
Dir: Anuradha Bansal; 1:30:00 min; Documentary; India
A Good Wife’ is a deeply personal exploration of womanhood, marriage, and freedom within an Indian Marwari Hindu community. As the filmmaker navigates questioning the establishment of marriage in her own setup, she confronts the rigid ideals of a ‘virtuous wife’ imposed by family and tradition. Through intimate filmmaking, she challenges these expectations, exposing contradictions and seeking personal liberation. This film is her attempt to reclaim agency, question inherited beliefs, and spark dialogue on autonomy and identity.
Blurred Boundaries : The Mishmi and the Forest
Dir: Imrana Khan; 13:18 min; Documentary; India
“Blurred Boundaries: The Mishmi and the Forests” is a documentary by Dusty Foot Productions for WCS-India and the Kamlang Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department, exploring the deep connection between the Mishmi people, the forests, and the tigers they revere as kin. The film showcases how tradition and respect for nature can drive meaningful conservation.
The Night That Forgot to End
Dir: Biswajit Das, Surbhi Dewan, Farha Khatun, Nundrisha Wakhloo, Rustam Mazumdar; 22:27 min; Documentary; India
The anthology film brings together five filmmakers exploring a single theme—fear. Through distinct yet interconnected films, each artist uses their lens to interpret fear in a unique voice, contributing to a cohesive narrative that is both personal and collective.
Molai - Man behind the forest
Dir: Dhiraj Kashyap; 20:00 min; Documentary; India
Molai, also known as Jadav Payeng, is a committed environmental and forest activist and wildlife enthusiast from Kokilamukh in Jorhat, Assam. Over several decades, he has planted and tended for trees on the sandbar islet of Aruna Chapori, which lies between the mainland and the river island Majuli, transforming a vast area into a forest reserve since 1980. Jadav Payeng’s sprawling Molai Kathoni (Molai’s Woods) is now a thriving habitat to a large number of birds, animals and insects, including deers, tigers, rhinos, Asiatic buffaloes, monkeys, vultures, snakes, and more. The Molai Reserve, which covers approximately 550 hectares, is home to thousands of trees and more than 100 species of medicinal plants.
Bali
Dir: Amoli Birewar; 25:45 min; Documentary; India
In a small village in Maharashtra, Sujata, a young girl from the Banjara tribe, is at that fleeting age when anything feels possible. She dreams of becoming a kabaddi player, inspired by the movies she loves. But as her school years come to an end, she is pushed toward a forced marriage, like generations of women before her. A district-level tournament becomes her last chance to change her future. As she steps onto the Kabaddi court, Sujata slips into a Bollywood-tinted dream, momentarily becoming the hero of her own story.
Those, revealed on the walls, in a touch
Dir: Anand P Chandran; 28:00 min; Documentary; India
A short documentary capturing the heartfelt journey of a grandson returning home to visit his aging grandmother, who had broken into tears during a phone call longing to see him. The film unfolds as an intimate homecoming, where the camera becomes a quiet observer of the emotional reconnection between the two generations. Through shared meals, everyday conversations, and moments of silence, the grandson begins to rediscover his roots.
Saath Paar Zindagi ( Life Beyond 60 )
Dir: Haider Khan; 1:05:54 min; Documentary; India
Saath Paar Zindagi (Life Beyond 60) is a cinematic tribute to five extraordinary Padma Shri awardee women who have defied societal norms and reshaped traditions through their resilience and courage. Manjamma Jogati (67), Parbati Barua (71), Hirbai Ibrahim Lobi (72), Friederike Irina Bruning (67), and Chutni Mahato (66) come from diverse backgrounds but share an unyielding spirit that has left an indelible mark on society.
Thar: Sacred Groves and Waterscapes
Dir: Pranjal Joshi; 19:59 min; Documentary; India
In a world driven by instant gratification, the stories of communities in and around Orans offer a lasting reminder of the power of nurturing and protecting nature with love and respect. These communities understand that true rewards—such as peace—are beyond the reach of money and haste. Their legacy is the forest and all its wild inhabitants, cherished as vital to ecological balance. From shared groundwater wells that sustain over 100 households without ever being overdrawn, to community-led efforts in wildlife and water conservation, the people in western Rajasthan exemplify a profound, selfless commitment to preserving nature.
Nilgiris: Customs and Culturescapes
Dir: Pranjal Joshi; 19:59 min; Documentary; India
The people of the Nilgiris, nestled in the hills of Southern India, share a deep connection with their land. They have spent centuries understanding the nuances of nature, embracing age-old traditions passed down through generations. One such practice is beekeeping, an integral part of their lives that provides sustenance and forms a unique bond between the people and their environment.
Sundarbans: Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes
Dir: Pranjal Joshi; 18:15 min; Documentary; India
"Sundarbans: Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes” weaves stories of the natural heritage of the largest delta and mangrove forests of the world. In a naturescape where the ground beneath one's feet is constantly fleeting, the forests function as a space that gives generously and takes mercilessly. The confluence of endangered species and unpredictable livelihoods - is a tale that ties faith and ecology, resulting in coexistence amongst vulnerabilities.
Slow Wave
Dir: Pooja Kadam; 9:22 min; Documentary; India
Living in the current times often leaves me questioning “existence.” With existence comes the fear of its absence. The film is a documentation of such an experience and an attempt to pen down fear and loss. It helped me share a dialogue with my parents around unexpressed fears and sorrows hidden deep down, thus opening a channel of accepting the inevitable, death!
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