Drama in the jungle

Award-winning filmmaker Subbiah Nalla Muthu says animals lead exciting lives and he loves capturing those moments.

March 31, 2015 05:59 pm | Updated April 02, 2015 05:58 am IST

Animal Tales: Lion taled macaque

Animal Tales: Lion taled macaque

National award winning wildlife film maker, Subbiah Nalla Muthu believes that there are stories hidden in the jungle that miss the human eye. And he has taken it upon himself to tell people those stories. His protagonists are animals and their conflicts and survival struggles form the main narrative of his works.  “And why not,” asks Subbiah. “Animals too have emotions. Their lives are as dramatic as ours.”

Subbiah’s award winning wildlife documentary, Life Force- India’s Western Ghats bagged the 62nd Rajat Kamal award for the best exploratory film. It tracks eight endangered species including the Lion-tailed macaque, Great Indian Hornbill, Slender Loris and Purple Frog.

The visual language and story-telling part fascinate him more than the science and facts, says Subbiah. “I am basically a film maker. Even though my work involves strong research and consultation with scholars, all the facts are presented like a story. My film will be solely my interpretation of what I see through my camera.”

But, the stories were tough to track . Life Force cost them several sleepless nights. It took 21 days to capture the Purple Frog, which comes out from under the ground, only for a few days to mate. And, the Great Indian Hornbill obliged them with her presence after a 40 days’ wait!

“We had to setup make shift machaans at 200 feet to capture the bird. We trekked, braved leeches and incessant rains through out the shoot. There were days when we shot nothing. But that’s how the jungle works. It has its own time and pace,” says Subbiah.

The film was shot in 18 months in different spots including Valparai, Athirapally and Silent Valley. “We wanted to give a wet, lush look to the frames. So we shot the film mostly during the monsoon season. The Western Ghats is rich in wildlife stories. It is unfortunate that it is not given the due attention internationally,” says the 51-year-old filmmaker.

Subbiah’s career began at the film division of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). His photos, capturing the flight of flamingos and pelicans, were used for rocket design.  After quitting ISRO, he freelanced for National Geographic, Discovery and BBC World.

This is Subbiah’s third National Award. His film on a family of tigers called Tiger Dynasty won him the national awards for Best Cinematography and Best Environment Film in 2012. The film was about a tigress who was trans-located from Ranthambhore to Sariska Tiger Reserve.

In fact, his fascination for the big cat is well known. He has been following tiger families for the past one decade. His Tiger’s Revenge was aired on National Geographic channel during the Big Cat Week.

For his next project, he is shooting four generations of a tiger family. The heroine is Machili, a fiercely independent tigress. “There is a lot of drama in Machili’s life. She has to fight with other tigers for her territory, fend for herself and protect her cubs. After spending time observing her, I realised even tigers have family values and sentiments. It is unfortunate that we see them as just ferocious predators.”

His films’ aim is to make people relate to these species emotionally, says Subbiah. “Cinema is for the masses. It has to be both entertaining and informative. That’s why I believe in the power of storytelling. It urges the audience to empathise with the animals and treat them with respect.”

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