SUMESH LEKHI
NATURAL HISTORY FILMS . CINEMATOGRAPHY . STORY . EDITS
Award winning filmmaker
As a wildlife filmmaker, Sumesh Lekhi has had the opportunity to capture some of the most breathtaking moments in nature. Every shot is a testament to his passion for wildlife and his dedication to showcasing their beauty to the world. Along the way, he has met amazing people and witnessed incredible sights that have shaped him as a complete wildlife filmmaker and professional. He considers every experience an opportunity to learn and grow, and he brings this philosophy to every project he undertakes. His films strive to share the beauty and wonder of the natural world with audiences. He believes in the power of films to educate and inspire people about the natural world, empowering them to work towards bringing about necessary change within their environment.
NATURAL HISTORY | WILDLIFE | HABITATS | LANDSCAPES
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CINEMATOGRAPHY . STORYWRITING . POST PRODUCTION . NATURAL HISTORY FILMS by Award Winning Filmmaker SUMESH LEKHI
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CINEMATOGRAPHY & DIRECTION
STORYWRITING &
SERIES SCREENPLAY
POSTPRODUCTION
EDIT & COLOR GRADE
Sumesh Lekhi is a wildlife cinematographer with over 10 years of experience. He is passionate about wildlife conservation and uses his skills to create films that educate and inspire people about the natural world. He has been involved in conservation work for the last several years, and the films he has made are an extension, based on conservation issues and stories. Through the past decade, the genre of the films that he makes has taken him to challenging terrains, with rigorous requirements of fieldcraft and camera work in uncontrolled lighting conditions and set designs
Sumesh Lekhi believes that the script is the backbone of a film. With a strong understanding of wildlife biology and behavior, he writes scripts that are researched and engaging. He spends time researching and observing his subjects and this translates into scripts and screenplays that capture the details and essence of subjects, at the same time presenting the details with simplicity for the audience to take back their own interpretation and resolutions from his films.
Edit/DI has become a professional extension of DOP/Filmmaker's work and Sumesh Lekhi has a penchant for using the best DI workflow when it comes to taking data from the latest cameras through appropriate edit/grading software, especially with the latest video codecs, which many hardware and software need to be able to handle.
Edit - With a strong eye for detail, he is known to create smooth and seamless edits.
Color Grade - The filmmaker is skilled in all aspects of color grading, from basic correction to advanced techniques such as color matching and stylization, especially as he works on the field also and is able to bring natural hues and wildlife species colors to the post production table so that even creativity confirms to realism.
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ABOUT SUMESH LEKHI
Sumesh Lekhi has been involved in conservation work for the last several years, and the films he has made are an extension, based on conservation issues and stories. Climate change and environmental issues are one of the greatest concerns faced by our planet in the 21st century and an increasing human population competes for space and natural resources, rapidly degrading pristine forest areas that support myriad life species. These forest in turn giving us life sustaining elements like clean air and groundwater. Land available on the planet is under further pressure, compounded by rising oceans, increasing desertification and deforestation. Sumesh Lekhi looks towards making films that delve into issues that effect people and the planet and associates with organisations, individuals and production companies that are committed to working in this direction. His films not only show people the amazing creatures that share our planet but also stress on the importance of protecting them, as the film he makes does not showcase only one single species, but the biodiverse ecosystem as a whole interconnected system where one species cannot thrive without the other. His work raises awareness about the threats facing wildlife and strives to inspire people to take action to protect the planet's natural resources. By education, he is a Chartered Accountant and Lawyer, This skill set has been valuable in his conservation and legal work, and in running his film production and distribution operations.
As a professional, Sumesh Lekhi offers his clients a range of services including wildlife cinematography, video production, Natural History story writing, film editing, and more. He works closely with his clients to understand their vision and create content that exceeds their expectations as he showcases their stories through the power of visual media.He works closely with the forest departments to protect forests and wildlife and also helps them with interpretation of the environmental laws to protect our wild habitats. Over the years he has developed unique access to wild areas and has vast knowledge from his work with tribals, forests and wildlife, allowing him to develop a deep perspective in the interplay and symbiosis between all these elements, thus always having stories to tell about real commitments in the conservation field and how species and their unique behaviours can be accessed. Usually away filming at these wild locations, when back to urban areas, he spends time in schools, animal research institutes, film institutes to discuss conservation ideas with kids, students including film students, so that their conservation journeys can start young.
I
Central India is the beating heart of India’s Tiger populations, having some of the best jungles where the tiger thrives. A land where only the fast escape the furious.
This story takes us to one of India’s leading tiger capitals - Tadoba National Park, the Indian state Maharashtra’s oldest and largest Tiger Reserve spanning almost 1800 km including its buffer forests. Large territories in parts of Tadoba are ruled by four tiger Moms. Maya the queen of the lakes, Tara the Queen of the meadows, and the bison specialists Kuhani and Shivanzari.
These tiger matriarchs, hold the key to the future of this spectacular tiger land where stunning biodiversity is the key to portraying a vibrant ecosystem.
While the battle-hardened kings of Tadoba, tussle with intruding male tigers to protect their territories, will their mates, the tiger queens, and their cubs suffer collateral damage? Will the trials faced by the tigresses let them bring up the next generation of tigers, that will one day rule these lands, and spread tiger legacies to lands beyond the forests of their birth? The film journeys through one of the most exhaustive tiger stories ever told, a secret window into the lives and behavior of these intriguing monarchs and the stunning biodiversity in these jungles, where only the bold rule!
Tadoba
CINEMATOGRAPHY . STORYWRITING . POST PRODUCTION . NATURAL HISTORY FILMS
BASTION OF THE GIANTS- Distributed by ORF
Asian Elephants have been part of human culture, imagination and arts from times much before recorded history. Today less than 40,000 Asian Elephants exist in the wild with 3/4th of that population existing in India alone. India occupies about 2.5% of the world’s area, but is home to an astonishing 17% of the world’s human population! Imagine the demand on land for human use, and the immense pressure it has had on India’s forests and wildlife.
Despite this India is still one of the world’s most biodiverse countries where magnificent animals including the Bengal tiger, Asian Elephants and more roam-but for how long?
The film project Bastion of the Giants, entailed years of research by Brave Age’s research team, observing and filming Asian Elephant behaviour in India’s stunning wild jungles, especially at the World Heritage Site- Kaziranga National Park, which is set amidst one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and holding tremendous faunal and floral wealth. The park was established in 1908, primarily to protect the One-horned Indian Rhinoceros, whose numbers had come down to less than 100 a century back. Today with strict protection Indian Rhinos now number more than 2500 at Kaziranga National Park, a park that occupies an area of 640 square kilometres and is in need of desperate expansion. The protection of the Indian Rhino- a flagship species has led to the conservation of wide tracts of wild areas and has unwittingly led to the conservation of the Asian Elephants. Elephants need large areas to roam and a varied diet. Their traditional jungles and migratory corridors being taken up by humans, these magnificent mammoths are forced into human areas, giving rise to intense man-elephant conflicts with casualties on both sides.
along with his crew, Sumesh Lekhi, the film’s director spent days and nights with villagers in Indian villages flanking these Ancient Elephant jungles-understanding how their daily lives are affected and how they have to work along with the forest department and its guards to keep elephants away from their crops and homes.
Many of the villages and crop plantations stand on original forest lands. The film also captures how the forest department drives elephants out of crop fields almost every night. The villagers revere the Elephant God Ganesh and for now seem to understand the plight of the elephants-just trying to get food from lands they originally roamed. The forest department’s officials strike a balance with villagers by explaining to them that people are living in lands originally meant for elephants. So for now it is a truce, but for how long?
The deep North Eastern jungles are some of the best jungles in the world and the team set forth exploring them on film- a journey into the emerald landscape of these grasslands and forests-the film showing Asian Elephants in their green natural habitat. The project explores the lives of these giants and their family groups and being a keystone species-the large role they play in shaping their habitat. Even while bringing out the man-elephant conflict, Sumesh Lekhi wanted to present the magnificent side of how wildlife actually is if left alone in their natural environment and how the lives of different species are inter connected.
There still is hope for our wildlife and forests, but that will take great human leadership.
Bastion of the Giants-International and National Recognition for the film
The film program Bastion of the Giants has won wide acclaim and caught the attention of audiences throughout the world through leading festivals, channels, more :-
-Winner-Best Feature Film- Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, New York
-Winner- Isla Earth Conservancy Award of Merit, Catalina Film Festival, Avalon, California
-Winner-Gold Award for Excellence-Sound Design Non Fiction Film Indian Documentary Producers' Association
-Winner-SilverAward for Excellence-Best Environment&WildlifeFilm-IndianDocumentaryProducers'Association
-Best Film Documentary Short International Movie Award, Indonesia
-Winner-Best Nature Film- Barents Ecology Film Festival, Russia
-Winner- Audience Award, Catalina Film Festival, Avalon, USA
-Nominated Film for Wildlife Conservation (National) Above 30 Min, CMS VATAVARAN
-Finalist- WWF- Malasia Wildlife Award, Kuala Lumpur Eco festival
-Official Screening- Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Festival, Royal Opera House
-Official Selection- Wild Vaasa International Film Festival, Finland
-Official Selection- Naturvision, Germany
-Official Selection- Festival de Menigoute, France
-Official Selection- Matsalu Nature Film Festival, Estonia
-Official Selection- Kala Ghoda Film Festival, Mumbai
-Official Selection- Awareness Film Festival, Los Angeles
-Official Selection- Bushwick Film Festival, New York
-Official Selection- Columbia George International Film Festival, USA
-Official Selection- Muskoka Film Festiva, Ontario, Canada
-Official Selection- Lake Erie Arts and Film Festival, USA
-Official Selection- Godollo International Nature Festival, Hungary
-Official Selection-Cinema on the Bayou, USA
EMERALD FORESTS -
Return of the Tigers | Realm of the Tigers
In these challenging times of climate change and species extinction, the film Emerald Forests, has been especially made to celebrate a decade since the return of tigers to Panna Tiger Reserve and showcases one of Planet Earth's most iconic conservation stories- the reintroduction of tigers, where in 2009 except for arguably one, the whole population of the mega-carnivores-Bengal Tigers were lost in this stunningly beautiful landscape jungle. It is for the first time that the celebrated story of the return of tigers to Panna Tiger Reserve is being presented at the scale and length of a Blue-chip documentary made in 4K UHD.
Tucked within the ancient forest lands of Gond Tribes and rulers of Central India, lies the mystical Emerald forests with its gorgeous vista of plateaus, rivers and Gorges- Panna Tiger Reserve. As you enter, this stunning Eden slowly unravels its mysteries, springing wildlife surprises almost every second, from roaming Chinkara deer families and Indian leopards descending rocks to Crocodiles crossing the pristine River Ken. Panna Tiger Reserve is a forest with rivulets falling off gorges and vultures nesting off sheer cliffs. A forest which has relics from the past when the Gond tribals ruled, reminding us of a time when man and animals ruled these forests together.
But as stunning as this paradise is, all was not well a decade back. In the years before 2009 Panna Tiger Reserve used to boast of more than 40 Bengal Tigers, but by 2009, expect for arguably one tiger, Panna had lost all its Tigers to poaching and other human causes. Alarm bells rang across the tiger forest department and the State of Madhya Pradesh, the echoes of which had begun ringing even across India's Central Ministry corridors.
That is when this story begins. One of the biggest stories of HOPE in the world, especially in these times of species extinction and climate change. An audacious plan was worked on for the reintroduction of Bengal Tigers in Panna Tiger Reserve, so that their roars once again echoed through the gorges, valleys and river fronts.
That was when two tigresses were meticulously introduced in Panna. Then a male tiger T3 was also introduced. In a short time however, the male left Panna Tiger Reserve walking through human dominated areas. This was when the real challenge began for Mr.MURTHY and his team. With sustained and 24 hours search operations were several days, they were finally able to locate and bring the male tiger back, resulting in successful breeding and new cubs for the tiger reserve. During these days Mr.MURTHY and his team spent many nights in the tiger tracking vehicles.
Emerald Forests-Return of the Tigers celebrates 10 years since the birth of the first cubs after the tiger reintroduction and unravels the life and reign of 2 of the daughters of the originally introduced matriarch T3. The real success of MR.SREENIVASA MURTHY was how he retained an already demotivated forest team and inspired them to work hard under his watch and then the historical moments in Panna's new journey began to slowly unfolds. Cubs were born to the introduced tigresses and Panna Tiger Reserve Landscape now boasts of more than 50 tigers.
But the challenge had just begun. How do you keep motivating villagers and nomadic tribes around the park to protect their tigers and other wildlife. That is when the forest department alongwith organizations like Last Wilderness Foundation began rehabilating tribes like Pardhis and also educating villagers. Panna Tiger Reserve's current Field Director
SHRI.KRISHAN SINGH BHADUARIA has taken huge steps in educating villagers and actually involving them in the conservation process. He says that if people are sensitized to wildlife and forests then wildlife crimes would not occur. He has also taken up initiatives for water availability for wild animals across Panna Tiger Reserve. Mr.BHADAURIA recently confirmed of increasing tiger populations even in the buffer area of the park.
The 2 part documentary film is Directed, Cinematographed & Written by SUMESH LEKHI, Chartered Accountant & Filmmaker, whose earlier film on Asian Elephants "Bastion of the Giants" has been critically acclaimed internationally, winning multiple awards. This film was followed by a film by him on Mumbai's Wetland habitat and the stunning diaspora of species and biodiversity that exists within even in a megacity like Mumbai. the film is titled - 'Wetlands - Miracles in Mumbai'.
The film 'Emerald Forest' has been part of Director- Cinematographer Sumesh Lekhi's vision to celebrate a decade since the successful reintroduction of the Bengal Tiger .
The tigers of Panna are shy, despite which they opened out their lives to the team. Filming took place during the peak of summer when temperatures soared to almost 48 degrees centigrade, and astonishingly even in summer Panna Tiger Reserve maintains a lot of green elements mottled between the beige, peach and grey colored plateaus and gorges. The film series visits the many aspects that led to this successful conservation stories including the education of people living around the Tiger reserve.
The film unravels the stunning beauty of Panna Tiger Reserve, which is among the most beautiful landscapes in the world having a diaspora of species including critically endangered Vulture species that soar over Panna's forests and gorges, highlighting the serious threat of extinction faced by this species in the last few decades.
The film also explores the ancient rock-paintings in and around Panna Tiger Reserve, believed to have been painted by the Gond tribes ancestry who have inhabited these forests since centuries. Apart from these paintings Central India is also famous for Gond Paintings which are centered around animal and forest elements depicting the interconnected-ness of all of natures creations including man.
Apart from the Bengal Tiger, the film also explores aspects of the life of several species such as the Chinkara deer, Chausingha deer, Sarus Crane bird, Nilgai, Marsh crocodile, Francolin Birds, Indian Leapord, Sloth Bear among many more.
In these times of species extinction and climate change, this is one of the biggest stories of HOPE, of how Human Vision and Determination brought a forest and its key wildlife species, back from the brink.
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WETLANDS Miracles in Mumbai
In times of climate emergency and rising sea levels cities like Mumbai are still blessed with Wetland forests and mangroves that protect the city from the harsh action of the sea. The film for the first time in 4k UHD covers primarily Mumbai's 4 wetland habitats of Thane creek, Charkop wetlands, Bhandup and Oshiwara Lokhandwala.
The film WETLANDS-MIRACLES IN MUMBAI is directed, cinematographed and written by filmmaker Sumesh Lekhi, who has also made the multi-awarded Internationally broadcasted Elephant film Bastion of the Giants.
The film takes audiences on a journey through the lesser known rich biodiversity and natural wetland ecosystems that the maximum city of Mumbai has to offer. The film delves into these wetland habitats and the myriad species that manage to survive and even thrive in the midst of dense human habitation and the hustle bustle of regular city life. The film covers various avian species such as Greater Flamingos, Lesser Flamingos, Western Swamphens, Moorhens, Cormorants, Bronze-winged Jacanas, White-breasted Waterhens, Pied Avocets, Northern Shovelers, Pond Herons, Night Herons, Ruddy-breasted Crakes, Lesser-whistling teals, Spot-billed Ducks, Gargeneys to name a few.
Filming all these species of birds was exciting as well as a challenging job. Sumesh Lekhi has spent a decade researching and working in conservation and in his words
"It was exciting to put all our gear into swamp mode. We specially made hides to film from and would get behind the hide much before sunrise so that the birds were not aware of our presence and did not feel disturbed. Keeping equipment steady and filming flamingos was challenging on the creek's waves, but nevertheless the magnificent presence of the biodiversity was always inspiring. The film celebrates Mumbai's wetlands and showcases them in all their beauty and at the other end of the spectrum-also witnessing the constant pressure on Wetlands due to modern urban development activity. Hope through the efforts of many conservationists and through the film, lawmakers will give increasing importance to protection and enhancement of wetlands and forests."
I
Central India is the beating heart of India’s Tiger populations, having some of the best jungles where the tiger thrives. A land where only the fast escape the furious.
This story takes us to one of India’s leading tiger capitals - Tadoba National Park, the Indian state Maharashtra’s oldest and largest Tiger Reserve spanning almost 1800 km including its buffer forests. Large territories in parts of Tadoba are ruled by four tiger Moms. Maya the queen of the lakes, Tara the Queen of the meadows, and the bison specialists Kuhani and Shivanzari.
These tiger matriarchs, hold the key to the future of this spectacular tiger land where stunning biodiversity is the key to portraying a vibrant ecosystem.
While the battle-hardened kings of Tadoba, tussle with intruding male tigers to protect their territories, will their mates, the tiger queens, and their cubs suffer collateral damage? Will the trials faced by the tigresses let them bring up the next generation of tigers, that will one day rule these lands, and spread tiger legacies to lands beyond the forests of their birth? The film journeys through one of the most exhaustive tiger stories ever told, a secret window into the lives and behavior of these intriguing monarchs and the stunning biodiversity in these jungles, where only the bold rule!
TADOBA
© 2022 Sumesh Lekhi