NEW DELHI: Piplantri: A Tale of Eco-Feminism has been officially selected for its World Premiere in the Indian Panorama (Non-Feature) section at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) starting November 20 in Goa.
The feature-length documentary directed by Suraj Kumar and produced by Garima Singh will be screened on November 27 in Panaji.
The film is a powerful feature-length documentary set in Piplantri, a village nestled in Rajasthan’s Rajsamand district—right in the heart of the world’s largest marble mining belt.
The film follows director Suraj Kumar on a journey to uncover how this once-desolate village of Piplantri has not only reversed the effects of global warming, revived its groundwater table, and restored native flora and fauna but has done so by combining core ideas from feminism and conservation sciences.
At the centre of this inspiring revolution is Shyam Sundar Paliwal, the visionary village head and India’s first Padma Shri-awarded Sarpanch. His innovative initiatives—like planting 111 trees every time a girl is born—have captured the world’s imagination and are now being studied by the United Nations.
Through breathtaking visuals and intimate storytelling, Piplantri: A Tale of Eco-Feminism celebrates how one community transformed grief into green power, and how the birth of a girl became the symbol of life, growth, and resilience.
Kumar is known for his critically acclaimed films on India’s great knowledge figures, including Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and Sri Aurobindo. His Indo-Argentine film Thinking of Him, based on Tagore, was the closing film at the 2017 International Film Festival of India (IFFI Goa) and has received recognition globally. He also directed and produced Sri Aurobindo: Beginning of a Spiritual Journey, which has been screened by the Ministry of External Affairs in over 150 Indian diplomatic missions across the world.
More than 240 films from 81 countries will be screened and 13 world premieres, four international premieres, and 46 Asian premieres also planned at the festival.
“Piplantri is not just a documentary—it is a living example of how vision, empathy, and community spirit can heal the planet. What moved me most was how the birth of every girl here becomes a celebration of life itself,” said Kumar.
“This film celebrates the women of Piplantri and their deep connection with nature. Their story embodies resilience and renewal. The selection at IFFI is an acknowledgment of the power of local stories to inspire global conversations,” said Singh.
Piplantri: A Tale of Eco-Feminism is produced under Johnsons-Suraj Films International (JSFI) and reflects India’s emerging voice in global ecological cinema.
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