The Bedi brothers are filming in the harsh winters of Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh.
The 16th edition of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) will honour documentary filmmakers Naresh Bedi and Rajesh Bedi (Bedi Brothers), known for their pioneering work in Indian wildlife filmmaking, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will present the awards at the opening ceremony of the festival at Kairali Theatre at 6 pm on July 26. The award consists of Rs 2 lakh, a memento and a citation.
Naresh and Rajesh Bedi have devoted more than four decades to capturing the mysterious beauty of India’s fauna through their documentaries and photographs. Their work, characterized by an educative and conservation-oriented focus, has deeply influenced people’s understanding of India’s natural history.
A 1969 graduate from the Film and Television Institute of India, Naresh Bedi gave up a career in Hindi cinema and, along with his younger brother Rajesh, entered the then unknown field of wildlife filmmaking in India. Ganges GharialFilmed with a handheld camera, the video revealed previously unknown behavioural traits of this elusive crocodile and earned international acclaim, including the prestigious Panda Award at Wildscreen in 1984.
His subsequent documentaries on tigers, elephants and other wildlife have been shown globally on major television networks. Notable works include Saving the tiger And man-eating tigerBoth received BAFTA nominations.
Rajesh Bedi’s photography skills have also been equally appreciated. His book Indian Wildlife, which includes his photographs, was published in 1987. His photographs published in National Geographic have also graced Indian postage stamps. In 1986, Rajesh was named Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the United Kingdom.
multiple awards
His contributions have been recognised with numerous awards, including the Padma Shri in 2015, the Whale Award at the Wildlife Asia Film Festival and the Prithvi Ratna Award by the Centre for Media Studies.
The festival, to be held from July 26 to 31 at Kairali, Shree, Neela theatres, will showcase a glimpse of the Bedi Brothers. Chasing Shadows Part 1 & 2, Ladakh – The Forbidden Forest, Sadhu – Living with the Dead Wild, Hot Air Ballooning Adventures with Bedi Brothers, Emperor of the Himalayas, Corbett’s LegacyAnd Cherub of the Mist-Red Panda.
