PIPLANTRI: ECO-FEMINIST RAJASTHAN STORY SHINES IN IFFI SPOTLIGHT

Film chronicles Rajasthan village's eco-feminist transformation and earns IFFI Panorama selection.

- MURTAZA ALI KHAN

Filmmaker Suraj Kumar in Piplantri, Rajasthan

Like every year, one of the major attractions at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is the Indian Panorama Section, known for showcasing outstanding films across Indian languages.

Over the years, this segment has emerged as a favourite among younger audiences eager to explore the vast cultural, linguistic, and thematic diversity of Indian cinema. This year, one of the most compelling titles in the lineup is 'Piplantri: A Tale of Eco-Feminism,' directed by Suraj Kumar-whose earlier work includes acclaimed biopics on Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and Sri Aurobindo.

'Piplantri: A Tale of Eco-Feminism' chronicles the remarkable real-life transformation of Piplantri, a village in Rajasthan that turned ecological crisis into a shining model of environmental revival and women's empowerment. The movement was initiated by former sarpanch Shyam Sunder Paliwal following the heartbreaking death of his daughter due to dehydration. In her memory, he introduced a visionary practice: planting 111 trees to celebrate the birth of every girl child. The community supplements this act with a financial safety fund in the girl's name, while parents pledge to educate her and refrain from early marriage. Over time, this initiative has led to large-scale afforestation, rising groundwater levels, and new economic opportunities-particularly for women who now run thriving aloe-vera and other eco-based ventures. Former President Ram Nath Kovind bestowed him with a Padma Shri Award for his remarkable efforts in 2021.