Vijay Bedi

NATURE & WILDLIFE FILMS

The Secret life of Frogs In the land of tigers and elephants, deep in the jungles of India, a handful of scientists are at work, trying to save a species smaller than a thumbnail. Award winning photographer and film maker Vijay Bedi follows intrepid explorers working to save India’s amphibians from the tragedy of a nameless extinction. Vijay follows Dr. Gururaja a batrachologist, working at Institute of Science Bangalore, and others like Ashish Thomas at the Delhi University and Sandeep Das. He stations himself in a forest for 40 days just to document the breeding cycle of that odd looking purple nosed Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis (the Purple frog) only recently discovered by scientists in the rainforests of the Western Ghats. He unravels fascinating secrets of the ‘Dancing Frog’, a frog that breeds without any physical contact, another species that uses its unique ‘pottery’ skills to build a nest in the swamps of Southern India. Every creature, he encounters on this journey has a unique story to tell. Recently won Silver award at Cannes TV awards for "Best Nature & Environment Film" [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]

Film for Conservation The Youngest Asian Green Oscar winner, Ajay Bedi and Vijay Bedi gets you first ever film on Indian Amphibians. They have spend three years filming endangered frogs across India. The film is the first to document the entire breeding cycle of the elusive and mysterious Purple frog in the rainforests of India. For the first time Indian filmmaker and photographer using their video and pictures as tool for conservation. Ajay & Vijay Bedi are collaborating with researcher and using their footage and pictures to write a scientific paper, make it a true conservation film. The film Secret life of frogs is an urgent please to save thousands of amphibian species before its too late.[28][6]

NZZ FORMAT: WENN BILDER TIERE RETTEN- DIE GESCHICHTE DER BEDI- BRUDER

Der extrem seltene rote Panda lebt in einem kleinen Gebiet im indischen Himalaya. Monatelang haben die Zwillingsbrüder Ajay und Vijay Bedi im Schnee ausgeharrt, um ihn zu filmen. Dank ihren Anstrengungen hat die indische Regierung das Siedlungsgebiet des roten Pandas unter Schutz gestellt. Bereits der Grossvater, der Vater und der Onkel der Bedi-Brüder haben sich um Indiens reiche Tierwelt verdient gemacht. Ihr Werk dokumentiert Indiens Fauna über mehr als sechzig Jahre.[29]

CLEAN & GREEN ENERGY

In the eyes of the world, India's rapidly growing economy will be responsible for increased greenhouse gas emissions in the future. While India may not necessarily have created the problem, it aims to be part of the solution. Around the country through government and civil society initiatives a number of efforts are being made to switch to clean, green renewable sources of energy.

The film travels from the villages of Rajasthan to Bihar, to the millennium city of Gurgaon, it shows how the sun, the wind and all natural elements can be harnessed for generating energy. The film takes a critical look at why green energy solutions have not occupied mainstream policy and how to popularize these methods for economies of scale.[29]

MELTING PARADISE

This film for the first time takes you beyond the battle zone and explores Jammu & Kashmir's rich water sources now battling a new threat, namely – Climate change.[30]

Rising temperatures, even if slight, will have catastrophic effects. One of the first predicted impacts of climate change is the melting of the Himalayan glaciers also known as "Water Towers of Asia". A shrinking glacier will have serious effects on the livelihood of tens of thousands of people downstream that depend on its life-giving waters. Wetlands act as sponges or carbon sinks that remove carbon from the atmosphere. Film conclude as conservation of water resources such as wetlands is an important mitigation strategy against climate change and all nations across the globe will have to if they hope to meet the almost reduce their carbon emissions unthinkable challenges of a world short of water.[29]

GHARIAL CRISIS

A disease struck the core habitat of the Chambal Sanctuary in India, wiping out hundreds of Gharials which is more than fifty per cent of the adult and semi adult population in the entire area. This catastrophic epidemic could further lead to a danger that might crash the population of this critically endangered species to a level that it may never fully recover.

To give Gharials the rightful priority they deserve, this Film is an endeavour to ascertain the cause of deaths by carrying out field investigations, involving Indian and international experts, for the protection and conservation of Gharials.[29]

WILD ADVENTURE WITH BEDI BROTHERS- 13 x Half-hour programmes

A 13-part TV environment series called "Wild Adventures – Ballooning with Bedi Brothers". The series combines the adventures of ballooning with the art of wildlife filmmaking. In the series, they spanned the length and breadth of the sub- continent, covering as they go an entire array of wildlife, nature and the impact of humans on the environment. The series was shot with a large crew with intense support from government of India and forest department.[29]

CHERUB OF THE MIST

This film has won more than 21 awards.

Due to the forbidding terrain of its mountain habitat, there hardly exists any significant film or photographic record of the natural history of the red panda species in the wild. Made over 2 years, the first Indian film to unravels the secretive life of this mysterious and little known Red Pandas. This is the first ever documentation never-seen footage of the full life cycle of highly endangered species Indian has. The film showcase for first time ever the glory, courting and mating, nest building, rearing of the newly-born.

Most challenging sequence was Courtship behavior, which happens one for single day in a year. Vijay was lucky to capture is on the film.

Their population is low as 1000 only. Less than even great cat like tiger and snow leopards.

Before this film was made, many Indian thought pandas were not found in India but only in China. Our film could convince Indian officials that red panda excites in small pockets of Singalila National park and has been fighting its lonely battle for survival in the eastern Himalayas. These helpless red pandas are killed for there fur. A lank mark move, with full support of Bengal Chief Minister, now species is well protected under the Indian law.[29]

ECHOES FROM THE JUNGLE- 13 x half-hour programmes It is a pioneering serial of thirteen half-hour episodes of action, adventure and discovery about India's Wildlife. The serial traces the filming expeditions of the Bedi brothers with their children Rashmi and Vijay in habitats of thirteen endangered wildlife, each episode featuring an endangered species.

The series incorporating strong conservation messages treads innovative paths different than the conventional presenter led narrative or documentary format. The story lines are disclosed by inter-weaving rare behavioral footage of these species with records of the filming action of the team. The children and Bedi brothers interact with people and scientists on location, who are involved in conservation protection and research of these species.

The team's encounters with wild animals have been principally shot live, making it a series of fun-filled adventure as well as an exciting voyage of discovery. Viewers listen to the sounds of the forest, learn to track animals and interpret the signs of the jungle. There are moments of real danger when the team confront a lone tusker in musth', or tail rhino poachers in Kaziranga or when they plod through the Sunderban swamps where man-eating tigers lurk. The Bedi Brothers' experience and presence of mind, bails them out on each occasion.

Naresh and Rajesh Bedi draw upon their store of information and anecdotes nriched by thirty five years of experience in the field, to entertain and enlighten the viewers about the richness of India's animal life. Visuals and music transpose to make Echoes from the Jungle a memorable and exhilarating excursion through the natural realm of India.[29]

'THE POLICING LANGUR'

Film captures the colorful vista of man-monkey relationship in India that stretches from mythology to the modern and makes for a captivating tale of veneration, tolerance and co-existence. A fascinating journey through low-budget guerilla style filmmaking.

Winner of Green Oscar, UK, 2004. Making Ajay & Vijay bedi youngest Indian to win Green Oscar. Film got its second award for Best Wildlife Documentary at Vatavarn Film Festival, 2005.[29]

MONSOON WEDDING

Vijay Bedi assisted his father, an eminent filmmaker, Naresh Bedi, on cinematography for Mira Nair’s much-talked-about film Monsoon Wedding, which won The Best Film Award at the Venice Film Festival.

THE FOREST

Vijay Bedi also worked as a crew member of the wildlife unit for his father and uncle, Rajesh Bedi for a feature film on the man-eating leopards of the Indian jungles called The Forest, directed by the Oscar nominee, Ashvin Kumar.[31]

INSHALLAH,KASHMIR

'There's no better way of understanding Kashmir right now' said Tehelka magazine about Oscar nominated Ashvin Kumar's latest: 'Inshallah, football'- a documentary that does the difference. The film won the National Film Award. Directed by Ashvin Kumar and additional cinematography is done by Vijay Bedi for the film.[32]

THE MARATHON BOY

In 2011, Vijay Bedi did the cinematography for a Budhia Singh starrer documentary film called the Marathon Boy, a story about a boy from a countryside in Orissa; the film was funded by HBO & BBC. For a particular sequence in the film, he had to run alongside Budhia lugging a 15 kg camera on his shoulder.[31]