Documentary filmmaker and National Geographic Storytelling Explorer Munmun Dhalaria is committed to sharing her love for human stories within our natural world. As Director, DoP, Writer, and Editor at Moon Peak Films, she spends her days at the intersection of wildlife conservation, gender, and science communication. I chatted with Munmun about filming endangered birds, telling stories high up in the Himalayas, and her vision for the future of the wildlife filmmaking industry.

It’s great to catch you between your trips to the Himalayas! What drew you to the path of becoming a wildlife filmmaker?

I would say there are many scattered moments in my life that have led me down this path. As a child, I grew up watching documentaries on National Geographic and Discovery. This initial spark led to studying ecology, where as a foreign exchange student I studied radio-collared urban coyotes. I then undertook a Masters in Media and Cultural Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai) and have continued making wildlife films ever since.

Of course, I keep learning more about this craft every day and so the student mindset doesn’t change! Filming a wild animal in the wild is a herculean task. So much goes behind the scenes that is invisible to the audience, but it’s all worth it. I love that I get to spend time doing what I love, learn about new places, people, and wildlife, and basically explore our world on a daily basis while interacting with great minds.

Nature is certainly unpredictable. Are there any particular moments that stand out to you?

As a cameraperson, definitely filming the Jujurana in the wild. Jujurana is the local name for the Western tragopan, a bird widely considered to be a holy grail among birders and wildlife photographers. I received a National Geographic grant in 2018 which allowed me to film the bird and create a short film titled “The Jujurana’s Kingdom.’

Other noteworthy experiences behind the camera included filming wild elephant packs as well as filming a wild Bengal tigress chasing and killing a spotted deer – a live hunt on my first safari filming trip!

I’ve also had important moments which I wasn’t directly present to witness in the field, but have shaped me nonetheless. As an Assistant Director, my job included making sure that the camera team is comfortable and ready to shoot behavior worth putting on TV. I think there is something to learn from every role in a production – whether that be in front of or behind the camera. I also equally enjoy being on the move (for shoots) and getting to deep dive into topics of my interest (during pre-and post production).

This year your adventures brought your film ‘Ladakh Pashmina – The authentic, sustainable, cashmere’ a Special Jury Global Voices recognition at the 2021 Jackson Wild Summit!

Yes, I’m super excited to have been a part of Jackson Wild this year, showcasing Ladakh Pashmina! It’s my first time being part of a government-initiated, non-profit-supported, large enterprise that has the power to affect an entire community.

My film focuses on a community that lives in one of the world’s highest, most militarized areas – The Union Territory of Ladakh. Ladakh Pashmina is the local name for Cashmere, the famous luxurious fabric. It is made from the undercoat of the high-altitude goats reared by the Chang-pa semi-nomadic herders. Rearing pashmina goats is part of the Changpa identity but they’ve always been reduced to raw material providers in the global Cashmere market. Through this film, I highlight the current efforts being made by Changpa entrepreneurs and the local government to grow a textile economy embedded in local ecology and culture. This film is also part of my effort to document changing indigenous identities in the 21st century.

Elevating those voices is certainly needed. How do you see it all fitting together in the future of the wildlife filmmaking industry?

I love that this industry is finally expanding to give space to diverse voices and perspectives. Wildlife filmmaking has been notoriously white in the world and previously male in India and it’s time we change that! I’m also a huge proponent of lesser-known species and landscapes, so I’m glad to be covering some forgotten regions of our country. I think we are ready to see conservation on the big (and small) screens now, which makes it a truly excellent time to join the industry as a storyteller.

Absolutely agree – there’s no time like the present to bring these stories forward. What’s next for you?

I am currently the Director of 2 broadcast projects:

First is ‘Best of Indian Science,’ a series of three 8 minute short documentaries that re-creates the history of eminent Indian Biologists and showcases the importance of their contributions. Through this project, I hope to inspire young students from Asia and stir new-found interest and pride in Indian Science.

The second is ‘Chhumed na Yumed- No water, No village,’ a 30-minute film on climate change which is part of the global ‘Voices from the roof of the world’ series.  My episode from India will focus on how high-altitude communities in Spiti and Ladakh are dealing with a lack of snowfall and melting glaciers. Again, this film is focused on a global and Asian audience, to learn more about climate change-related problems and solutions from our part of the world.

When she’s not busy out in the field or researching for her next shoot, you can find Munmun unwinding with her dog.

Find Munmun online munmundhalaria.com, Instagram @munmundhalaria, Twitter @munmundhalaria, and Facebook.