If you think human beings have at least partially explored the terrestrial world, it is safe to say that they have only touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the aquatic world.
“Within Nature, the water world is fascinating,” says Arun Krishnamurthy, founder of Environmentalist Foundation of India. Season 2 of Hydrostan , a YouTube series that focuses on water bodies across India by Environmental Film Association, the media wing of EFI, set to release on YouTube. It looks at “water bodies that are close to people yet escape their notice.”
While Season 1 of Hydrostan explored stories on the Buckingham Canal and Mambalam canal in Chennai, Bangara Doddi Canal in Karnataka, Mithi river of Maharashtra and more, Season 2 will bring water stories from Meghalaya, Odisha, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Kerala and Telangana.
Curated as short videos, “ Hydrostan purely focuses on positive and inspiring stories,” says Arun. Divided into two segments, Hydrostan 2 will have “a mini and a major: major is a twenty minute long episode and a mini stretches maximum upto three minutes.”
The entire series has been put together by a small team of three and a few others for assistance. Owing to its focus on awareness through information, the series calls for extensive research, both archival and field. Chella Subramanian, an EFI trustee from Tirunelveli helps with the research content while the script is prepared by the EFI office in Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur. “My extensive field travel helps us gather more information,” continues Arun.
“We hire a licensed drone operator when needed, for aerial shots and the rest of it is shot through inhouse equipment with support from Sanjay Prasad. We have structured schedules to travel and shoot for our work based on need,” says Arun, talking about the resources required to traverse complicated and new terrain across India in search of unheard water stories.
“I grew up next to several lakes and ponds. I have seen them in their best shape and condition,” reminisces Arun. “It hurt to witness their exploitation, and I wanted to do what was possible from my end,” he says. Reflecting on the condition of water bodies in the city and the lack of rains he continues, “It is unfortunate that not just humans, but so many life forms are suffering with less water this year.”
The micro approach to conservation guides EFI’s practices. “Every river has a unique story to tell, what is often forgotten are the metrics associated with each one,” he says. “This ranges from the water flow, the number of agrarian hectares that these waters support which in turn help feeding the population, the amount of electricity generated from the gushing waters which provide power to homes, the transportation potential that each river holds and more.”
While exploring more terrains, Season 2 of Hydrostan will look at the rich water-based culture of the country. “India’s rivers, lakes, ponds and the stories that they have to share, needed a dedicated platform,” he concludes.
Hydrostan Season 2 will be released on May 22 at 7 pm on EFI’s YouTube channel
