VANA OLI (The Light of the forest)
Sitara, a young and passionate wildlife photographer comes across a stunning image of a firefly display. She sets out to capture a similar photograph herself. Her journey leads her to the hills of the western ghats but instead of magic she finds a fading world with fewer fireflies and a landscape dimmed by light pollution. As she speaks with locals and learns more about the delicate balance between nature and human impact her mission shifts. What began as a search for one perfect photo becomes a deeper journey of discovery, awareness, and conservation. In the end Sitara doesn’t just capture an image, she finds a story that needs to be shared.
Producers: Sitara Arul Karthikeyan
Director: Sitara Arul Karthikeyan
Cinematography: Prakash Ramakrishnan, Rahman, Barandiharan
Writer: Sitara Arul Karthikeyan
Editing: Sitara Karthikeyan, Yadhu N, Ben Sharath
Sound: N/A
Music: Mauricio Trabanino
I am Sitara, a wildlife photographer and aspiring filmmaker from Coimbatore, at the foothills of the Western Ghats in Southern India. I recently completed my Master’s in Wildlife Filmmaking at the University of the West of England. Surrounded by forests and wildlife from a young age, nature has always been a part of my identity. I picked up a camera at the age of nine, discovering a lifelong passion for capturing the beauty and mystery of the wild. Growing up in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, I feel a deep responsibility to showcase and protect it. Through my photography and films, I seek to connect people with nature, raise awareness, and inspire action toward conservation.