I Cannot Give You My Forest

Story

 I Cannot Give You My Forest (Dongar Dei Paribi Nahin) is directed by Nandan Saxena and Kavita Bahl. The film offers a poetic and intimate window into the lives of the Kondh Adivasis of the Niyamgiri forests in Odisha. It documents their symbiotic relationship with the forest, which provides them with food, medicine, and cultural identity, while highlighting the threats posed by industrialization and resource exploitation.
Notes & Extra Info: Screened at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI 2015), the documentary has been praised for its lyrical cinematography and sensitive portrayal of indigenous struggles. It emphasizes the environmental and cultural importance of preserving forests against commercial exploitation. The film is considered a landmark in Indian environmental cinema, blending activism with artistry.