CONCERT FOR INDIA’S ENVIRONMENT (2004)

2004, Pune, India. Film and album of this multimedia awareness-raising concert, with Chinmaya’s Celtic Ragas Band, schoolkid poets, interviews with environmentalists and stunning nature footage.

This documentary, created by Chinmaya Dunster to raise awareness for India’s environmental issues, evokes feelings of reverence for the wonders of India’s nature. It is also a tribute to the people who have lived alongside these wonders and have preserved so much of them.

Read about making the film Blog: Concert for India’s Environment: Filming in India 2004-7

Read about producing the concert Blog

Listen to the live recording of the concert Spotify Apple Music Amazon

Music Tracks

1. A Sense of Wonder

Footage of the Western Ghats, interview with Dr. Erach Bharucha (BVIEER), poems read by students: “I love the fog in the winter…”:, “Trees are our friends first…”:,

2. Sacred Groves

City children are invited to visit the sacred forests which are traditionally protected from destruction by a local deity, with commentary by Dr. Erach Bharucha

3. Paying the Price

Shamita Kumar, Deputy Director BVIEER, talks about the understanding women have regarding environment. A girl says: “I plant my tree on my birthday…”: Includes rare b/w tribal photographs from the 1950sby Sumant Mulgaokar.

4. Children’s Voices

Dr. Bharucha proposes conservation education in rural schools; children read their poems and talk about nature

5. Naturescapes

Pure music and images of birds from the Mutha river in Pune and the Himalayas.

6. Wildlife and Livelihood

Dr. Bharucha discusses the threat on the natural forests in the Himalayas and the impact on the livelihoods of communities living there.

7. Why We Care 1

The band members tell us what inspires them in nature. Footage includes a ruined fort in Maharashtra which has been reclaimed by trees.

8. Why We Care 2

Thoughts from Dr. Erach Bharucha (BVIEER), and band members. Footage of blackbuck from Rehakuri in Maharashtra.

The film ‘Concert for India’s Environment’ was shown at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona on 8th October 2008.

Chinmaya presented the ‘Concert for India’s Environment’ live at the Wildscreen Film Festival, hosted by the British Council in New Delhi on 9th Feb 2009.

Film Production

Chinmaya Dunster: director, producer, cameraman for location shots in India, video editing.
Dr. Erach Bharucha (BVIEER): technical advisor, still photography.
Naveena Goffer: artistic director, still photography.
Svargo: cameraman at the concert, additional shots, video editing.
Avesh: cameraman at the concert, additional shots (Maharashtra).
Lawrence Castle: additional shots.
Hansa: additional shots (Ladakh).
Mutribo: additional shots (Ladakh).
Vijendra Patel: additional shots (UP and MP)
Sumant Mulgaokar: b/w tribal photographs from the 1950s.
(2007)