Blog

I was translator and coordinator for the World Challenge film crew, the community, and our field staff for the filming of the episode. It was a great pleasure to convey the message to the villagers that their tiny work had made headlines around the world and selected as one in the list of finalists for the competition.

I had a very brief meeting with the film team on their arrival day. The project site was in the lowland Terai part of Nepal, and we set out the very next day on a 45-min plane journey. It was sweltering hot and the monsoon downpour had not receded. The political fluidity in that part of the country is another aspect to reckon with!

When we arrived the project field staff were eagerly waiting for us, and it took a 2-hour drive to the site of the biological corridor abutting India. A warm welcome in an exquisite 'Tharu' culture was quite a sight and their traditional 'stick dance' was no match. The typical 'Tharu' cuisine was delicious.

World Challenge team already started filming. On the evening we were taken to the homestay in the village. We then planned for the next three days with representatives from the community forest and field staff.

It was the first time I'd ever accompanied any documentary or film team. On the very first day, we sighted three rhinos in the waterhole in a walk-away distance from the village. We took it as a good sign for work. The three pachyderms (one calf) gave us ample time to film them until the rustling made them aware of our presence and they disappeared in the thick vegetation.

The project field staff and I were thoroughly impressed by the hard work of the film crew. The field staff frequently come across documentary teams from in and outside of the country and they can quickly perceive difference. At the end of the day they applauded the hard work and humbleness of the film crew.

On a personal front, I had the opportunity to learn about photography and filming. The morning sun was piercing but the team was wholeheartedly capturing the project and the people. The regional political party called on strike on the final day, so we had to wrap up a day early. The team filmed them working late in the twilight. 

The final day was filled with farewell by the community and with eyes set with determination to win the competition. As wheel roared, the film crew promised to come back in whatever capacity possible in the not-too-distant future. The swaying hands reflected the contentment that their work in an invisible corner of the world set an example to replicate. We took respite for a while as the river increased in volume! But the villagers seemed indifferent to the nature's bickering as they have learned well to live with nature.