Roy the wild life film maker stressed the importance of ethical filmmaking, highlighting that the subject and nature should always take precedence over the shoot.
“We wanted to document undisturbed visuals without the animals knowing we were there,” he explained. He criticized that in the age of 24X7 wildlife channels, this ethics of not disturbing wildlife in any circumstances is taking a back seat.
Discussing the evolution of wildlife filmmaking, Roy acknowledged the impact of digital technology, which has made it easier to capture wildlife on mobile cameras. However, he also pointed out the high costs associated with professional wildlife filmmaking today.
Roy expressed concern over the current state of wildlife conservation in India, noting that increased human population and land mass constraints are leading to more frequent man-animal conflicts.
“We can learn from Africa’s approach to wildlife management which allows selective culling of animal herds, although implementing such methods in India is challenging,” he remarked.
Encouraging students to immerse themselves in nature, Roy urged them to join nature clubs and organizations like the Bombay Natural History Society or the Madras Natural Science Society. He emphasized the importance of learning jungle craft and drawing inspiration from tribal knowledge.
