There’s simply no jury that will not vote Shriya Pilgaonkar as a terrific actress. But now, Shriya is herself in an elite list of jurors. The actress, whose memorable work includes Fan, The Broken News, Mirzapur, Guilty Minds and more, is part of the Festival Jury for the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF), which is being held from December 4 to 14.
Shriya is in her normal ebullient mode when she speaks to us.
How aligned are you with the cause of environment and sustainability?
I have been a campaigner for two years for the All Living Things Environment Film Festival. Today, more than over, the world is dealing with social and ecological issues, and stories in a way connect people in a much more stronger way to get attention to the cause. Cinema has a way of shaping our relationship with the world. About a decade back, I had written a short environmental film, Panchgavya, which became the official selection in the Hot Docs category at the Toronto Film Festival. I had co-directed it with my American friend, Hana Kitasei.
I do feel that storytelling has a huge impact on how we see the world, and only data is not enough to move people. So, when I got the opportunity to be on this jury here, I got to watch such amazing short films, almost like 80 to 100 of them from India and all around the world!
So, everything was in tune with your own thoughts.
Yes, because it was not just education but mentally an awakening of my thoughts. It was enlightening to see how even humour, thrills and stylized treatment can be used to really showcase a cause, and also emotionally move you! And the topics for all these films were so varied, and I was one of the four jurors who watched these films from the filmmaking point of view. We had two environmentalists and a wildlife filmmaker, and it was an incredible experience to be on the jury with them. Over the last three months, we have watched all the films and decided the awards, but the decisions were very difficult! Our main thing was how to make these environmental films more accessible. Some of my favourite films were Would You Still Love Me if I was a Sticky Frog?, Daughter of the Sea, One Seed at a Time and The Girl & The Pot.
And I also think that an artiste must get out of his or her bubble! It’s important for your creative journey to expose yourself to so many different things and people, and understand that these issues themselves need help in being showcased.
But most such films are considered boring
Yes, the audience tends to look at such films as boring and preachy, but now there are such incredibly creative stories being told and I think I really want the audience to watch these remarkable films. These are entertaining and engaging and also have an emotional resonance. Our priority was to pick films that are accessible and have a very unique way of talking about a subject. The priority was to see which films can shake you up, but in a creative and entertaining manner.
How will the audience get to watch them?
There are screenings in Mumbai and Bangalore and you can get information on the ALT EFF website.
You are a Sociology graduate. How does that tie in with your passion for the environment?
Studying sociology taught me to see the world as an interconnected system where people, communities and power structures constantly shape one another. So, when I think about the environment, I don’t see it in isolation. I see how it connects to inequality and to everyday lived realities. Sociology helps me understand the ‘why’ and my love for the environment gives me the push to engage with it. This blend is what drives me as an artiste, and as jury member, it gave me the opportunity to highlight stories that are not just about nature but about the people whose lives are woven into it.
Tell me something about your film Panchagavya
My film looks at the cultural contradiction around how we worship cows yet often see them struggling on the streets. The film gently asks us to think about this gap between reverence and reality. It asks the question: What does our treatment of animals say about us as a society?
In real life, what is your contribution to the ALT cause?
I think all of us as individuals need to do what it takes in our day-to-day life, to do the best for the environment, whether it is being aware of plastic consumption, wastage of water or our Carbon Footprint. At individual level, all of us have to take that responsibility, and of course I too am doing my bit. In fact, associating with this festival is also somewhere a part of spreading awareness.
I think that anything we do has to start at an individual or micro level. As human beings, we have a huge responsibility to ensure that we can, for example, delay the effects of climate change, even if we can’t completely curb it.
BOLLYWOOD NEWS - LIVE UPDATES
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2026 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.