In January 2010, it was estimated that there were only 1,411 tigers remaining in the wild in India and with each passing year, our national animal is one step closer to extinction. But all hope is not lost yet. Several NGOs, environmentalists, naturalists, government projects and even celebrities are doing their bit to save the animal through the Save The Tiger initiative.
To offer them a helping hand, Mumbai-based Studio Eeksaurus too have pitched in with three short films on the majestic animal. These films, available on YouTube, are being screened at schools across the city and hope to create awareness about tigers, helping their cause. “It is always taken for granted that someone out there is doing something, but if we want to contribute, we don’t know how to reach the right people. So our founder director E Suresh decided to do something we do best— using the medium of film and design to create awareness,” explains Nilima Eriyat, producer, Studio Eeksaurus Productions Pvt. Ltd.
The films, titled Paradise, Pride and Game, have diverse plots but focus on the fact that the tiger is on the brink of extinction and efforts to save it should be on now. They were made a few months ago and have been directed by Suresh. “There was no such conscious decision to keep the plots different. Once we decided to make a few films for the cause, we had brainstorming sessions in the studio, which shaped a few promising ideas into scripts,” says Eriyat.
The response to the shorts has been very encouraging. In the animation and ad circle, where it has been seen most, the films have been applauded. They have also made their way to major film festivals across the globe, leaving many from the audience teary-eyed. “Children are awed by them, and are quite sensitive to the problem. They give us the sweetest ideas about saving tigers. So I guess we do strike a chord with the audience, except for TV channels who refused to air it after we approached them to stream the films for free,” says Eriyat. The studio was also in talks with WWF to take their films forward but hasn’t heard from the group yet.
{{/usCountry}}The response to the shorts has been very encouraging. In the animation and ad circle, where it has been seen most, the films have been applauded. They have also made their way to major film festivals across the globe, leaving many from the audience teary-eyed. “Children are awed by them, and are quite sensitive to the problem. They give us the sweetest ideas about saving tigers. So I guess we do strike a chord with the audience, except for TV channels who refused to air it after we approached them to stream the films for free,” says Eriyat. The studio was also in talks with WWF to take their films forward but hasn’t heard from the group yet.
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Paradise (60 sec) is a pun on the present state of the tiger where industrialisation is eating into the forests and the tiger is yearning for a so-called paradise, which is extinction.
Game (30 sec) is inspired from the clever little rural toys, where just two images, moving back and forth, tell a simple yet powerful story.
Pride (30 sec) evokes patriotic sentiments where the country’s map is used as a metaphor. It says that our map has no identity without our national animal.
To watch the films, type Save The Tiger- Pride.mov, Save The Tiger- The Card Game.mov and Save The Tiger- Paradise.mov on YouTube.