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I am a 27-year-old wildlife filmmaker and presenter from India. Growing up in Central India, I have always been close to wildlife and this is where my deep affection for wildlife was ignited. After my schooling in India, I moved to the United States for my graduation and studied International Politics and Administration, along with Entrepreneurship and Journalism, and nothing related to filming or wildlife. But these courses really shaped my personality, developed a knack for entrepreneurship, and most importantly equipped me with tools to tell the most compelling stories to impact policy decisions and influence minds.
While I loved my Political Advocacy job in Washington D.C., something was always missing. My deep-seated love for wildlife, and quest to fulfill my childhood dream drove me in the summer of 2019 to quit my job and delve right into this field, to become a full-time wildlife presenter. My first series was inspired by my early life in Central India, its people, and its animals. The series was taken over by WWF International and also showcased at the 13th United Nations Convention on Migratory Species in February 2020.
I have worked on several projects with WWF International, with Animal Planet as a live host, and have been published in several national and international newspapers and magazines including National Geographic, Outlook Traveller, The Weather Channel, and Times of India, and appeared on media channels like NDTV and Aaj Tak to speak about wildlife and conservation. The most monumental project for me has to be the Virtual Safaris, which are the first and only one in the country, hosted on the World’s First Wildlife OTT platform.
My goal is to tell stories that evoke passion in hearts and minds across the world and urge them to play their part in conserving our beautiful natural heritage. As a part of this effort, I also lead wildlife safari and photography tours all across India and Africa.
2. What has been your greatest success in cinematography?
Telling the story of Tigress Solo.
Solo was born to Rajbehra female – a tigress famed among safari-goers across the world – she was quite the showstopper at the time, controlling one of the most extensive and pristine territories in Bandhavgarh. Solo and her three siblings – two females and a male, were born in 2012 in a deep cave that Rajbehra’s mother Jhurjhura had frequented.
3. What are some of the most important skills for a cinematographer to have?
Ability to convey a story: It is very important to connect with your audience, and that happens only when you can hook them onto a strong and meaningful story. When there is a feeling of a connection with a story, there’s bound to be a long-lasting impact on the mind of the viewers. Be different: In today’s day and age, we are open to more content than we can consume and retain. Every day we scroll through thousands of videos and photos with an average time of less than even 2 seconds per photo/video. In times like these, it is very important to bring something different to the table and tell stories that haven't been told before. If you are producing content that is already out there, chances are it won’t have the impact that you wished for. Put some effort and time before you start a project, researching the subject/story you want to work with.
Good homework always pays off. Evolve and learn continuously: This is particularly important. What was relevant even two months ago, might not be today. In this fast-paced world, it doesn't take much time to be irrelevant and obsolete. We must keep learning, educating ourselves, and asking for help wherever needed.
4. Are there any particular genres that you specialize in shooting?
I have been documenting natural history for close to 15 years now. It all began when I used my dad’s reel camera to click my first-ever wildlife photographs. Since then my emphasis has always been on bringing the beauty of our natural world to people’s screens so that they can fall in love with nature and wildlife, just like I did. As I believe, “what we can see, we can love. And what we can love, we will fight to protect.
My goal is to tell stories that would evoke passion in hearts and minds across the world and urge them to play their part in conserving our beautiful natural heritage. I specialize in filming big cats in the Central Indian landscape.
5. What makes you the best candidate for this job?
I am a highly skilled wildlife tracker, trained filmmaker, professional presenter, and award-winning photographer, and spend close to 300 days in the field every single year.
On most days I am in the jungle from 5 AM in the morning to 8 PM in the evening and sometimes until 11 PM while on night patrols. This immerses me deeply into my surroundings and I am in tune with every single creature around me.
6. Which is your favorite book and why?
One of my all-time favorite books is The Lonely Tiger by Hugh Allen, it is a book from the 1950s about hunting - much like those of Jim Corbett.
What I love about this book is how much it teaches you about animal behavior and even conservation, the decline of wildlife, and one man’s love for protecting his private wildlife estate.
Brief Bio:
Suyash Keshari is a 27-year-old Wildlife Presenter, Filmmaker & Conservationist. He is the pioneer of India’s First Virtual Safari Experience hosted on his own OTT Platform - Safari with Suyash - TV, which is also the first of its kind in the world. He has hosted over 250 people on safaris including political figures and celebrities.
Suyash was recently awarded the prestigious 30 under 30 award for his work with wildlife conservation, virtual safaris, and eco-tourism. He has been published in over 300 national and international newspapers and magazines. He is also ranked as one of the Top 5 Wildlife Professionals in India for 2022, categorized as the "Young Blood.
Interviewed by - Aarya Gode
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