They are an endangered species. And they mince no words. “If the entire world can be singing Oye Bubbly, it’s time we created enough noise about issues that matter — wildlife being one of them,” says Gautam Pandey, 27. With his rocker looks —long hair and pierced ears —Pandey makes an unconventional wildlife filmmaker. He teamed up with his partner Arjun Pandey, 26, to win two prestigious international awards at the Albert’s International Wildlife Film Festival (Festival International Du Film Animalier, Albert, France).
Timeless Traveller – The Horseshoe Crab is a film, claim the filmmakers, on the world’s most spectacular scientific breakthrough that could rewrite the pages of medical history. The horseshoe crab can be used to create immunity towards AIDS. “Our first effort is to list the crab as an endangered species,” says Arjun. “The film was not made with the intention to make a difference to anyone, but everyone,” he adds.
And the two seem to be moving on the right track. Their film, made with a small budget of $ 6000 was competing with productions with a budget of $ 4-5000 million. “We were excited with a nomination but the awards are precious. The awards have open many avenues for us,” says Arjun.
Passion runs in the family. After all, Gautam is Mike Pandey’s son and Arjun his nephew. Mike, needless to mention, is one of the country’s most celebrated wildlife filmmakers. “He’s the greatest teacher in the world,” says Gautam. “Since the age of ten, on all our vacations, we’ve been observing angles and shots,” says Arjun.
Apart from making wildlife documentaries, the two have been making programmes for National Geographic Channel and Discovery among others. “And of course, we have to do commercial work. That’s where the bread and butter comes from!” says Arjun.