Civic Studios Unveils Ambitious Climate Storytelling Vision at Mumbai Climate Week
Global media company Civic Studios, dedicated to creating entertainment that engages and empowers audiences, has revealed its comprehensive vision for climate storytelling during the inaugural edition of Mumbai Climate Week (MCW). This marks India's first dedicated platform aimed at accelerating climate action across the metropolitan region.
Innovative Media Approach to Climate Crisis
Incubated at the prestigious MIT Media Lab in the United States, Civic Studios has established itself as a pioneering climate media innovator. The company showcased its commitment through the screening of its powerful short film It's Only 47°C, positioning storytelling as a transformative tool to address the climate crisis at scale.
Operating from strategic hubs in Mumbai and London, Civic Studios brings impressive credentials to this initiative. The company has previously produced acclaimed international projects including:
- Gurinder Chadha's musical feature Christmas Karma
- The UK's Oscar entry Santosh
- IFFR NETPAC Award winner Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust
Compelling Narrative on Climate Inequality
The centerpiece of Civic Studios' presentation was their latest short film, It's Only 47°C, which explores the harsh realities of climate inequality through the story of traffic constable Laxman Chaubey. Set in a city pushed to its breaking point by extreme heat, the film reveals through an exhausting work shift the brutal truth that climate change impacts are not endured equally across society.
The film features award-winning actor Sharib Hashmi, known for his role in The Family Man, and represents a significant creative collaboration. Written and directed by Tej Sisodia, the project is produced by veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah and Civic Studios founder Anushka Shah, with executive production by Harish Borah. Anchored by a powerful poem from Swanand Kirkire, the film offers an intimate and deeply human portrait of climate inequality in urban India.
Special Screening and Panel Discussion
The official screening of It's Only 47°C is scheduled for February 4, 2026, at Redbulb Studios in Andheri West. Following the screening, a panel discussion will feature key contributors including:
- Director Tej Sisodia
- Producer Naseeruddin Shah
- Executive Producer Harish Borah
- Akshata Samant
- Shishir Joshi, CEO & Founder of Project Mumbai
The session will be moderated by acclaimed filmmaker Devashish Makhija, promising insightful dialogue about climate storytelling's role in driving social change.
Building a Comprehensive Climate Media Ecosystem
It's Only 47°C represents just one component of Civic Studios' broader mission to leverage compelling storytelling for public engagement and climate action. Central to their vision is the creation of a comprehensive Climate Media Ecosystem—a multi-platform approach designed for both scale and long-term impact.
This innovative ecosystem includes four key components:
- Children's Animation: Adapting Indian environmental books into short animated films suitable for classroom viewing
- Rural Radio – HAAT BAAT: An audio storytelling series highlighting resilience and climate action from rural India
- EdTech Integration: Partnering with leading Indian educational platforms to embed environmental messaging into learning ecosystems
- Climate Media Fund: A substantial ₹10-crore initiative providing grants to Indian studios, filmmakers, and streaming platforms to integrate climate narratives into mainstream films and series
Leadership Perspectives on Climate Storytelling
Anushka Shah, CEO and Founder of Civic Studios, emphasized the project's significance, stating: "As Civic Studios, we came on board to produce this film because of its stark reminder that heat doesn't affect the rich and the poor equally. The film is part of our larger slate of climate change stories aimed at galvanising urgent climate action."
Veteran actor and producer Naseeruddin Shah added his endorsement: "I would not think twice before supporting such a project because it is made with honest concern and conviction."
Through this comprehensive initiative, Civic Studios demonstrates how entertainment media can serve as a powerful catalyst for climate awareness and action, particularly in urban environments facing increasing climate challenges.
