The wait for the film started right after I watched the trailer. Before reading about this film, know that some technical terms related to environment and wildlife conservation have been used in the article. People associated with this field know the exact meaning of all these, but it does not mean that the audience will not be able to understand these topics while watching the film. A simple understanding is enough to stick with the story of the film ‘Sherni’.
The opening shot of film itself wins hearts. The film begins with a forest guard walking like a tiger in front of a camera trap set up, to monitor tigers. After this mock test is done, instead of walking like any other “forest guard” animal, another forest guard starts walking straight in front of the camera. On asking for the reason to do so, he says, “This time I am a bear, sir!”
One laughs at this stupid act of the forest guard, but yes, it actually happens in the field. Sensing the presence of a tiger by the call of a barking deer, determining whether it is a male or female by looking at the tiger’s footprints, the debate about the difference between leopard and tiger faeces, or the difficulty of identifying the right animal by looking at the photo. This film very clearly presents many such small fields and the nuances related to wildlife conservation. The people working in this field, unlike the general audience, would probably laugh on watching those conditions and this film would take them back every time to their field/research days. Perhaps, while watching, many even realized that they have to get up early in the morning to install the camera trap.
The bureaucracy prevailing in the forest department, transfers, attempts to do new things in an old and shabby government system, the impact of politics and industries/mining on resources, and making an argument through the important points like Human and Wildlife Conflict, Green Corridor, and alternative livelihood, this film tells a story of very important and environmentally sensitive and research-oriented topics including Habitat Fragmentation. Which is a new syllabus for a common audience in an Indian cinema. Apart from those working in this field, everyone who is concerned about their resources, wildlife, their survival and future should be aware of such matters. Apart from these issues, the film also shrewdly outlines the role of women in a work place and the way they are viewed.
The review is incomplete without talking about some of the gradations shown in the film. Can an entomologist (specialist on insects) talk about saving the tiger and its associated habitat? Is it only the experts who are needed to save the wildlife or those people who understand the practical side of the issues, and who have the passion to fight this fight? Try to show the relationship from an insect to a tiger, or a bird looking blurry just above the picture of a moth (nocturnal butterfly-like insect) on the wall of the same entomologist’s house and not an insect expert’s photo. A Field guide for birds on his desk and featuring the photograph of an expert on birds Salim Ali, the film repeatedly talks about the holistic approach to environmental protection that we have forgotten.
The film makes a good attempt in explaining the struggles to cope with the harsh conditions created by the so-called “Conservationist” hunters whose soul interest lies on blaming and killing wildlife in the name of conservation. As well as uncontrolled crowds during wildlife conflicts near human settlements, conspiracies to deprive the local tribes of their resources in the name of tiger conservation, plantation of base-foot trees to show the forest area increasing, community mobilization work for encouraging conservation efforts by locals. All these aspects of the film make it eye opening and extremely informative.
The director and research team have done a wonderful job. Like puppets in the hands of the director, the cast is accurately chosen. But it really makes one think how director Amit Masurkar would have gotten such an insight on issues and got this meticulous work done simply through their effortless acting. Despite the beautiful location and wildlife sanctuary of Central India, drone shots are just as many in the film as they are required by the story. Apart from the main cast, the people of the village, forest staff etc. are probably local, who are not even professional actors but their spontaneous response to the forest and the circumstances, seems to be doing a miraculous job of gluing parts of the story together.
To a general audience, the story may seem flat and slow at times, which can be agreed to some extent. There are many such stories related to wildlife conservation in India which are full of struggle, thrill, suspense, inspiration and dedication till death. Be it the struggle to save rhinos in Assam or the innumerable tales related to wildlife trafficking. If you are into wildlife related issues globally, you must watch two films made on such matters, one is Mountain Patrol written and directed by Chuan Lu and the other is Gorilla in the Mist directed by Michael Apted. Leaving aside factors like suspense, thrill and the story not ending at a very positive end, this story talks about some extremely important issues in wildlife conservation. The understanding and need of whose are not only in India but also in the whole world. Seeing the two tiger cubs at the end of the story, amidst the bleak prospects in the field of environmental protection, this film gives hope to keep fighting and save some seeds for the future. Loosely inspired by the Avni’s case in Maharashtra, this film exposed up some wounds for many wildlife biologists.
Some 9 years ago I worked on the world’s largest fish – the whale shark. So, the last shot in the film, the shark’s specimen, hanging in the museum, gave me a small smile. I would advise the common audience to promote this film at least once and to the people who have worked and/or are currently in this field, so that more such films are made and these issues reach the common people. There is only one advice to the people associated with the forest department – you know your ground reality, but still after reading this, if you want to see it, then definitely watch it with the whole staff.