Ram Mula Devrai
Healing Forest Films

Pune’s Last Devrai

Devrais are sacred groves, sanctuaries of stillness scattered across India. These ancient forests abide by a simple truth: Take nothing away. Disturb nothing inside. Leave nothing behind. And so, they remain untouched, cradling a treasure of interconnected life, thriving across generations.

But today, these sacred groves are vanishing—losing their space to the jungle of concrete, sacrificed in the name of so-called progress. Ram Mula Devrai, Pune’s last sacred grove, now stands at the edge of erasure.

We cannot let this happen.

Friends of Devrai

To raise awareness and action we are forming a collective called Friends of Devrai – a small group of nature-minded folks who can lead interesting walks inside the forest.

The members can collaborate with each other to form interesting events for the Devrai. These walks will fall under three broad categories:

🌿 Creativity Walks – See the forest through an artist’s eye. Whether through photography, painting, music, theatre, or movement, let the Devrai inspire your creative spirit.

🌳 Nature Study Walks – Wander with wonder. Tree walks, birding or insect walks to deepen our understanding of the delicate web of life.

🍃 Mindful Walks – Experience the restorative power of the sacred grove. Slow down, breathe deeply, and immerse oneself in the stillness of meditative forest walks.

These walks are a beautiful and immersive way to engage people across age-groups with the Devrai! Through these events we also hope to raise much needed funds for JeevitNadi, and Pune River Revival – non-profits working tirelessly to protect Pune’s rivers and riparian forests.

If you’d like to join this initiative, please fill in this form and we’ll be in touch.
FRIENDS OF DEVRAI FORM>>

*If you just wish to attend the walks and events at the Devrai, you can join the whatsapp group: Happenings@Devrai,Pune – It will keep you informed about the various activities happening each week.

Notes On the Initiative

  • This is a citizen’s initiative. There are no sponsors or patrons involved.
  • You are free to decide your level of involvement and commitment.
  • Walks can be in any language and you are free to design your own format. 2 hour sessions in the morning or evening work best.
  • All events and walks inside the Ram Mula Devrai have to adhere to the sacred law of the Devrai – Take nothing. Disturb nothing. Leave nothing.
  • The ‘Friends of Devrai’ collective also follows a single rule – Be kind. Be helpful.

Gifts of Devrai

A visit to the Devrai is meant to give you a glimpse of your entire life-journey. It’s because in life too we come with nothing, and leave with nothing.

Ram Mula Devrai is more than a forest; it is a teacher, a reminder that true wealth lies in diversity, that all life is sacred, that we are part of a greater, breathing whole. Join us in protecting Ram Mula Devrai. In saving it, we are saving something far greater than trees—we are saving a slice of Pune that shows us how beautiful this city once was.

Here’s the location in Aundh, Pune: Ram Mula Devrai

Healing Forest Films

Nourishing Now

As global warming advances and the world tips towards more challenging times there is an urgent need to connect young people with nature so that we can shift the trajectory of our planet’s future.

The nourishing now campaign is a set of films that offers hope and direction in a creative way. It imagines people, communities, and entire cities that have become devoid of any colour. In a grey world, how does one bring colour back into our life? The answer is simple and Nature shows us the way. Each film covers a unique course of action in which nature can bring health, wealth and happiness into our life.

Even in the darkest times, there is always a path back to colour and joy.

Rewilding

*Film credits are in the video description on Youtube | Film duration: 2 min.

Short Film Rang: This film has been shot in Pune, one of India’s many rapidly changing cities. Pune was once a no-fan station, where even in hot Indian summers you could do without having a fan. Blessed with a unique geographical location under the foothills of western ghats – the rivers and green cover of Pune kept it cool and provided it with one of the best weather in our country. A rapidly growing population and the large scale of construction has resulted in the loss of city’s forests, as well as pollution of its seven rivers. Pune now faces heat waves, flooding in monsoon, as well as water scarcity in many areas.

A small collective of people are however trying to protect and restore the city’s nature. One such group is the Anandvan Foundation that is aiming to transform Pune into a city of urban forests. With active involvement from Pune’s youth as well corporates and the forest department, they are making significant shifts in nourshing the spirit of Pune and its nature.

Rewilding as an opportunity: About 55.76 million hectares i.e. 16.96% of Total Geographical Area (TGA) of India is categorised as wastelands. These areas are currently under-utilized and deteriorating due to a lack of appropriate resource management or on account of natural causes. It offers a big opportunity in engaging our youth and solving the complex puzzle humanity faces for its future.

Renewables

**Film credits are in the video description on Youtube | Film duration: 3 min.

Short Film Berang: This film tells a fascinating story from the ice desert region of Ladakh in the Himalaya. Ladakh, known for its stark beauty and towering Himalayan peaks, is not untouched by the hands of climate change. Once a land of icy winters and clear, crisp air, it now faces unpredictable weather patterns and rapidly melting glaciers. These glaciers, the lifeline of the region, are shrinking at an alarming rate, threatening water supplies for both people and crops. Locals, who have relied on glacial melt for centuries to irrigate their fields, are witnessing a change they can neither predict nor control. Studies show that glaciers in Ladakh are retreating by 15-30 meters annually, putting communities and their way of life at risk.

But Ladakh also holds hope for the future. With abundant sunlight and strong winds, the region is ideal for renewable energy solutions. Solar power is already lighting up remote villages, reducing the reliance on firewood and fossil fuels, and offering a path forward. If we invest more in harnessing these natural, clean energy sources, we can not only slow down the effects of climate change but also offer Ladakhis a sustainable future—one that remains in harmony with their environment. Check out the work of Himalayan Institute of Alternatives to know more.

Renewables as an opportunity: In 2022, India ranked as the third-largest producer of renewable energy in the world, with nearly 40% of its installed energy capacity coming from non-fossil fuel sources. The potential for growth is immense. Solar power alone has the ability to transform India’s energy landscape. With over 300 sunny days a year, vast stretches of desert, and unused land, India could generate enough solar energy not just to meet its own needs, but to export it as well.

Nourishing Now vs Frightening Future

The climate crisis is often framed in alarming terms—rising sea levels, scorching heatwaves, and vanishing forests. While the urgency is undeniable, this focus on catastrophe is stirring anxiety, especially among young people. In fact, a 2021 global survey found that 59% of youth feel “very” or “extremely worried” about climate change, with 45% saying their feelings about it affect their daily lives . A sense of dread can be overwhelming, making many feel disconnected from nature rather than inspired to protect it.

Instead, we need to nurture a different narrative—one that highlights the simple joy and healing power of nature. Encouraging young people to experience the outdoors, to plant trees, to learn about local ecosystems, can nourish a sense of hope. When we connect with nature in the present, we begin to see solutions rather than just problems. By nourishing the now, we can inspire action without fear, shifting the course of our future towards something better.

Nourishing Now Concept

The Nourishing Now initiative is the brainchild of ‘ComMutiny – The Youth Collective’. ComMutiny has been working with young people since 2008. Their goal is to build vibrant ecosystems and empowering spaces that nurture the leadership potential of young people towards transforming self and society.

Our role at Filmkaar was to bring this concept to life in a creative way and produce engaging films that can connect with a large number of people. Please leave a comment to let us know your thoughts and ideas.

Healing Forest Films

HAMPI – City of Stones

Who are we? Where do we come from? The rocks know.
Hampi – the city of stone hides many stories. Some of them are not from Earth. Travel with this 2 minute film to the UNESCO world heritage site of Hampi. A geological marvel of nature on our planet.

This short film is an artistic interpretation of the living rocks of Hampi. It fuses the wonders of Hampi with digital art to reveal the stories hidden inside the rocks.

Remnants of a once thriving civilisation in the South Indian state of Karnataka, there are more than 1,600 monuments from the Vijayanagara Empire. It was one of the last southern Hindu kingdoms which ruled from the 14th to the 16th century. By 1500 CE, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world’s second-largest medieval-era city after Beijing, and probably India’s richest at that time.

On a more philosophical note, the story that is hidden in the monuments and stones of Hampi whisper about the chisel of time and its intricate workings. Those of have the patience to be still and the curiosity to listen will discover the secret that binds all things on Earth – our origin and our final destination.

Hampi is an exceptional place. Every person who visits it, finds something unique. As an artist I have used digital art to depict the stories that the rocks of Hampi told me. This is not a documentary, it is a cinematic short film. No rocks were harmed or moved in the making of this video.

Healing Forest Films, Important

Healing Forest

Healing Forest is a journey to discover the remarkable healing powers of nature. To find new ways that bring people and forests closer to each other.  Join us in this exploration of fascinating forests and inspiring stories of healing from nature.

Our aim is simple. Helping people heal. Helping Forests heal.

Forests are known to have great healing properties. As humans, we have evolved in nature. It’s where we feel most comfortable. It has been scientifically proven that when we spend time in nature, our brain behaves differently. It affects how we feel and think, which has a direct impact on our immunity and healing powers.

Countries like South Korea and Japan have designated healing forests. Forests that one can go to find calm, balance and good health. Forests that help people recover, relax and revive.

To experience the concept first hand, visit this link to try out some Nature Walks, Games and Meditations based on the Japanese concept of Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing.

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If this idea interests you, please subscribe to this blog with your email. Here are some of the things we hope to do: Organise nature walks. Publish maps of healing forest trails. Bring out new films on the healing powers of nature. Create conscious communities. Provide natural healing tips. Tell stories of inspiring people. Discover fascinating forests that can serve as therapy forests. Do action projects that give back to nature.

Click on these links to read our latest posts and healing stories. Feel free to reach out to us with your thoughts in the comment box below. To know more about this initiative visit the about page.

pic-forest-jag

Please share this with people in your life who may need a moment of calm in their life.

india in 5 minutes
Healing Forest Films

India In 5 Minutes

Catch the spirit of India in this short film and get a glimpse of the many wonders that India has to offer. From the Himalayan ranges in the North to the oceans in the South. From the deserts in the West to the rain forests of the East. Experience the many worlds that make up India.

INDIA

Simple to explain.
Difficult to understand.

Quick to amaze.
Slow to absorb.

Impossible to predict.
Certain to enchant.

Always full of adventure.
Never short of warmth.

INDIA
Easy to love.
Hard to forget.

India

This film ‘India Unravelled’ was made possible through a documentary film fellowship by PSBT. Visit them at http://www.psbt.org

Favourites

Here’s a list of 10 of my personal favourite destinations in India (in no particular order).

Ladakh
Spiti
Arunachal
Sikkim
Jodhpur
Rann of Kutch
Mumbai
Hampi
Andaman Islands
Kerala

Write your favourite place in India in the comment box below and I’ll try to create a film on the most popular choice. Feel free to share, screen, embed this film.

kerala

Kumaon
Healing Forest Films

Stories From The Mountains

Mountains are like grandmothers. They have many stories to tell. Nestled in the Himalayan ranges of Kumaon in Uttarakhand are some wonderful people, ideas and initiatives. Given below are three simple stories from the region to give you a glimpse of the unwilted life in the mountains.
Junle fowl

Children of the mountains
In a world filled with hate, anger and aggression the children of the mountains have an interesting message to give.

A school in the mountains
Chirag is a small primary school run by an NGO of the same name. They have a very different view on what education is and how children should learn. You can volunteer or visit them at Chirag

Gifts from the mountains
Chandi Maati is a small social enterprise working with women from 4 villages in the Himalaya mountains. They make and sell wonderful gifts which help in creating a source of income for these women. You can find them here on Facebook.

Hope these films inspire you to travel to the mountains. There are some amazing stories waiting for you.
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Healing Forest Films

Imagine – A Space Project

A collaborative project to imagine the Universe. A small group of 3d Artists, Writers, Poets and Graphic Designers come together to create works of art inspired by Space. Writers and Poets send in quotes or verse on any theme connected with Space and 3D Artists or Graphic Designers turn the words to visuals by creating images or video. Here’s an example:

Imagine Space Project

Participants for Round 1 of the project are:
WORDS: Purvai Aranya, Jashoda Chettri, Nandita Yata Rai, Deepak Dhamija, Pratik Maheshwari, Varun Sayal, Nitin Das
VISUALS: Diya Sarker, Naina Jain, Arif Hussain, Milin Patel, Mohammed Anwar, Abhinav Yadav, Debashree Pal, Darshan Singh Grewal.

You can view the on-going submissions at this link

–

RULES
Rule 1: Quote / Poem must be original, and linked to Space theme. For visuals, the artist can select space elements, backgrounds , textures from material available under creative commons license. But use those elements to create something unique.Helpful sources:
NASA: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/search.cgi?contentType=SVS
HUBBLE: http://www.hubblesite.org
Rule 2: Teams have to email their work by end of 23rd June 2015 to support@filmkaar.com
Word limit: Not to exceed 250 characters.
Final Image Dimensions: 1920 x 1080 px Filetype: .jpg
Final image to contain text by writer / poet.
Also include names of team members in the image as credits in small font size.
Note: This is an exercise in exploring the boundaries of imagination. Teams should follow the principles of creative respect and creative acceptance while working together.* This is not a commercial project. All works created will be available under creative commons license with proper attribution to the respective authors.
imagine-title
Folk Music Meghalaya
Healing Forest Films

Finding Bah Kerios Wahlang

Some of the greatest treasures of our world are safely tucked away in distant corners of less traveled regions. But once in a while, you stumble upon an invaluable experience. Here is an account of one such treasure.
Folk Music Meghalaya
On The Road
I am escaping Shillong. There is a 48 hour strike by some political groups that want outsiders to obtain special inner line permits before coming in to Meghalaya. Incidentally Shajal, the driver of my taxi, is also an outsider. He is driving in nervous bursts like a mouse in a grocery store. We are traveling to the sacred forest of Mawphlang in the hope that outer areas will be less politically charged. On the way I am also hoping to meet a special person.

I land up in a small town called Mawngap. It bears a deserted look because of the strike.  We ask a car mechanic by the road for Mr. Wahlang, the musician. It turns out there are many musically inclined Wahlangs in the village.
Folk music -2The Search
For the past 30 days I have been traveling across many less known areas of the North East. Through forest reserves with beautiful villages surrounded by bamboo and betel nut trees, amidst green hills and meandering streams, I am searching for some exceptional folk music. On my journey I have met amazing singers and musicians and come across folk instruments of varying shapes, sizes and sounds. But there is something within that doesn’t click. There is a lock in my heart and the keys just don’t fit.

 While I am in Shillong, I hear about an old folk singer who composes his own songs and has an amazing voice. His name is Kerios Wahlang. But like all good things in life, many people know of him but not how to get to him.
Folk Music Meghalaya -4
Meeting Bah Kerios
It takes me days to find out his contact number. I finally manage to land up at his small house perched atop thick wooden pillars. Bah Kerios has just returned from seeing the doctor. He is running a slight fever. He knows very little Hindi and I don’t know any Khasi. I show him some of my earlier films and he understands. He asks his grandson to bring his Duitara, a traditional guitar carved out of wood.

 Tuning the strings with his experienced hands, Bah Kerios begins to sing. In his voice is a magic that transports one into a dense green forest full of old trees. A forest that is alive and singing in a deep voice. Later, Bah Kerios shows me a photograph of him singing besides a row of huge stone obelisks with a thick forest behind. It is the sacred forest of Mawphlang.
folk music 3The Sacred Forest
Leaving Bah Kerios Wahlang to get better, I head onwards to the village of Mawphlang. A village known for it’s monoliths and it’s sacred grove. Large vertical rocks are scattered all around the village. Mysterious stones arranged in circles. Stones shaped as benches or simply standing out of the ground like a giant’s finger pointing at the sky.

And at the edge of the village is a sacred grove. There are monoliths and stone structures spread inside the forest as well. The stones inside are covered in a layer of wet, green moss. The air is delightfully pleasant and filled with birdsong. Being inside the forest gives one a strange sense of calm. The music of Bah Kerios belongs to this forest and originates from it. He has been giving a voice to these songs of the forest for many years, but not many people outside of Meghalaya have heard his music.
Bah Kerios WahlangFarewell to Bah Kerios
Two days later, the strike has ended. I am headed back home, but on an impulse I decide to check in on Bah Kerios and take his picture. I find him smoking a pipe outside his house, soaking in the crisp winter sun. His army of little grandchildren are chasing the rooster and the hens in their backyard.

We sip some black tea and Bah Kerios brings out an old scratched CD. It contains one of the few recordings of his songs. The life’s work of a great folk master, preserved in a fragile disc. Bah Kerios holds the precious CD in his hand and says, “I wonder whether people will remember my music when I am gone.” I think to myself, I hope they will, Bah Kerios. I hope they will.

Healing Forest Films

Slow – A film from North East India

Slow down. Take your time. Free your mind.
Watch this 90 second film from the amazing parts of North East India. In a fast paced world we are all trying to make the most of our time, but this film talks about a far more important task.

North East India

On rare mornings when the sky is clear, the rays of the rising Sun strike the Kanchenjunga peak and set it aflame. One by one the adjoining peaks catch this light and turn crimson. One of the few places in India, from where one can witness this match-light effect is the small town of Pelling in West Sikkim.

North-east-india-matchlightMeanwhile in Dawki, Meghalaya close to the border of India and Bangladesh runs a river with waters that are crystal clear. Clear enough for some people to catch fish simply by spotting and lifting them up.

Slow-poster-3And in the open grasslands of Kaziranga and Manas in Assam, one can get dangerously close to gigantic one horned rhinos. Close enough to hear them chew the grass as you sit on top of your elephant ride.

North East RhinoIt is surprising but many people don’t know about the treasures of North East India. Here’s a 90 second short film that captures the beauty of the less traveled Dooars region in North East India.

If you have traveled and experienced the wonders of North East India then tell us your favorite parts. We’ll try and include them in our next film from the North East.

film making mentoring 2NOTE: If you liked this film you can check out our collection of short travel films from amazing corners of the world at this link:
http://www.bit.ly/mind-travel

Folk Music Project
Healing Forest Films

Folk Secrets Music Project

Folk Secrets Music Project rediscovers amazing folk bands from magical places. We explore far corners of the world to find out wonderfully talented musicians and bring their music to a larger audience. Here’s our first music video for Vayali Bamboo Band from Kerala, India.

Vayali Bamboo Band with all instruments made of bamboo comes from a small village called Arangottukara in Kerala. Surrounded by small verdant hills and lush green paddy fields with flocks of white egrets the village transports you to another world. And echoes of the bamboo music resonate with the beauty of this place. Hear the wonderful composition by the Vayali Bamboo Band and let their music take you on a magical trip.

Vayali is a registered non-profit. It consists of a group of young people, engaged in preserving their folk roots. Please share their music far and wide and if possible invite the band for shows and performances. Know more about them by visiting their web-site: www.vayali.org

fern-web

The frogs are croaking and filling in the silence of the night. The rain has just stopped, but one can still hear the occasional drops falling on the ground from high trees. I am sitting with a small group of musicians in a village in central Kerala. One of them manages to hook up a weak halogen lamp from a broken electric socket. A yellow pool of light creates an island in the darkness.

The musicians begin to open black canvas bags. They take out long bamboo sticks. Thick bamboo stems. A black leather case with steel clips clicks open. It reveals an array of neatly packed bamboo flutes in varying shapes and sizes. Slowly the band sets up their bamboo instruments.

The first instrument is a thick bamboo stem with a series of notches cut into it. A stick runs over the notches and a curious sound emerges. It mimics the frogs croaking. The other members join in with their instruments. The percussionists pick up the rhythm with their bamboo drums. A large hollow bamboo section has been filled with seeds. It’s called the rain stick. The seeds fall from one end of the bamboo to the other and create the sound of falling rain. The flautists join in. Their eyes are closed and a tune, hauntingly beautiful manifests itself into the dark jungle that surrounds us.

Music. One of the 2 universal languages. A language that has the power to bridge cultures and bring people together. I have traveled to a small village named Arangottukara in Kerala. Someone had told me about the Vayali folklore group and their amazing bamboo band. So I have come to see whether we can create a small music video and take their music to a larger audience across the world. I do not speak their language, but we understand each other.

Most of the band members are daily wage earners. Carpenters, painters, odd jobs at construction etc. But those jobs are for the day. When the sun sets and night covers their village, they come back to their music. Back in their village, they are masters of the bamboo band and owners of a rich folk heritage.

The bamboo band’s performance extends far into the night. There are many songs, many tunes and many stories. We end with a round of smiles. Black tea is served. I sit in silence and listen to the night. The frogs are still croaking, but the bamboo band’s music continues to play in my head.

Folk Music Secret Project
Folk Secrets Music Project

Sign up to our mailing list to get an update on the Folk Secrets Music Project when we release the next music video. We will also mail you a download link to the Vayali Bamboo Song.