Tiger Truths
April 20, 2010
A new film on conservation hopes to transform the viewer into participant
As filmmaker Shekar Dattatri travelled across the country, he sensed a lack of direction among those who wanted to contribute to tiger conservation. “People were aware of the gravity of the crisis facing our tigers, but did not know what they could do to help,” says Dattatri. This convinced him to make The Truth About Tigers, a film which, in his own words, marks the transition “from awareness to advocacy”.
Dattatri, a Chennai-based filmmaker, spent years making documentaries for National Geographic and Discovery. But gradually, the disillusionment came. “These are lavishly funded films, possibly seen by millions of people, but they don’t do much for conservation,” he says. “Education is incidental to television, as the main focus is on entertainment.”
Over the last decade, Dattatri has trained his lens into the most ecologically pressing issues of our time – the disaster facing the Olive Ridley turtles in Orissa, the Silent Valley rainforest in Kerala and environmentally damaging mining in Karnataka’s Kudremukh region. In each of his films, Dattatri’s strength lies in articulating a complex issue in a distilled manner that allows greater access and understanding for those not well-acquainted with the terrain.
Two years in the making, The Truth About Tigers is a film in the same vein, making its point in a direct and concise manner. Through a stirring narration by actor Roshan Seth and a carefully edited melange of glorious archival footage, the 40-minute film advocates a more pro-active role for citizens and civil society in saving the tiger. “I believe there is still hope,” says Dattatri.
In line with his faith in narrowcasting, Dattatri hopes to influence those who may go on to determine policy. “Instead of having a million casual viewers, I find it far more useful to target a viewership which may go on to make a change,” he says. However, some of Dattatri’s recommendations are facile – asking citizens to form watchdog groups and write letters to the editor cannot be counted as truly original insight.
Dattatri’s enduring optimism is admirable, as he comes to the end of a disappointing tenure with the National Board for Wildlife (NBW), headed by the Prime Minister. “It has been a disappointing experience, to say the least,” he says. “We are supposed to meet the Prime Minister once a year, even that has not happened regularly.” Dattatri felt even well-intentioned policy measures never left the drawing board.
So once again, Dattatri has returned to the medium he knows best. Armed with copies of his film to be given away free for distribution and screenings, Dattatri plans to hit the road, hoping to spread awareness and will people to action. The message is to be relayed not only in English, but seven other Indian languages. “I decided to become a naturalist after reading Jim Corbett and Gerard Durrell,” he says. “I hope a few more people will attach themselves to wildlife after watching this.”
This piece appeared in Tehelka magazine, April 24 issue.
