Filmmaker Shankar Borua Condemns Himalayan Destruction as a 'Ponzi Scheme'
In a stark and powerful statement, filmmaker Shankar Borua has described the large-scale destruction of the Himalayas as "nothing short of a Ponzi scheme," attributing the irreversible damage to the fragile mountain ecology to unchecked human greed. Borua, who grew up in Assam surrounded by the Eastern Himalayas and has spent recent years in Uttarakhand, has personally witnessed the severe environmental degradation in both regions.
Personal Experiences Fuel a Climate Change Narrative
Borua emphasized, "I have now seen the damage in both parts of the Himalayas." These firsthand experiences inspired him to craft a story that, while appearing as a crime thriller on the surface, subtly focuses on the urgent issue of climate change. This narrative is central to his latest film, Blue Ocean, whose music was launched on Friday. The music was written and composed by renowned Bollywood lyricist Shelle.
Blue Ocean: A Film with a Critical Environmental Message
The 120-minute film, shot entirely in Dehradun, is a multilingual production in Hindi, Punjabi, and English. It is expected to begin streaming by Baisakhi this year. Borua explained that the Himalayas serve as a critical subtext throughout the movie. "The movie was shot in Dehradun; its music was written and recorded here. The Himalayas remain a critical subtext throughout," he said.
He further elaborated, "It attempts to highlight decades-long human intervention in the Himalayan region, at great peril to the flora and fauna, within the confines of a crime thriller." The film was made over nearly a year with a crew of 35 people and has already been screened at colleges and universities across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttarakhand.
A Mainstream Bollywood Venture with a Purpose
While Borua has worked on nearly a dozen projects in the past, Blue Ocean marks his first mainstream full-length Bollywood venture. The film is dedicated to the legendary singer Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and its tagline—"Sabko anjaam ka dar ho, yeh zaroori toh nahi"—is drawn from one of his qawwalis.
Reflecting on the film's message, Borua told TOI, "Maybe if we knew what the consequences of our actions would be, we wouldn't chop down all the trees. Not protecting our wilderness for future generations is nothing short of a criminal act. This is what the journey of our protagonist, an undercover cop, portrays."
Through this cinematic effort, Borua aims to raise awareness about the critical environmental issues facing the Himalayas, blending entertainment with a poignant call to action against ecological neglect.
