Synopsis
about Maa Ka Doodh film.
Maa Ka Doodh: Uncovering A Nation’s Dairy Disaster is an investigative feature-length documentary film about the untold stories behind the success of India’s White Revolution – The World’s Largest Dairy Production and Development Campaign. It also explores the ethical, cultural, environmental, religious, economic, social, and political complexities the consumption of dairy in India has created since millennia. The film uncovers how India became one of the largest exporters of beef in the world and its direct link to the nation’s dairy industry, along with the negative impacts of this industry on India’s bovine population, public health, environment, and culture, with the aim of finding novel, sustainable and ethical solutions.
The film follows Dr. Harsha Atmakuri who travels over 20,000 kilometres across the length and breadth of India, by road, for over two years meeting people who are directly or indirectly associated with the dairy industry. During his extensive research, he takes nearly 100 interviews that include eminent and notable people like Smt. Maneka Gandhi (Member of Parliament), Sri Acharya Prashant (Spiritual Guru), Padma Shri awardee Smt. Sudevi Mataji, former IAS officers, IPS officers, Nari Shakti awardees Shakuntala Majumdar, Mini Vasudevan, Gauri Maulekhi, and Dr. Nandita Shah, as well as in-depth interviews with dairy farmers, gaushala administrators, gau rakshaks, and restaurant owners, among others.
In the course of the documentary, Dr. Harsha discovers how India became one of the largest exporters of beef in the world and identifies its direct link to the nation’s dairy industry. He uncovers the negative impacts of this industry on India’s bovine population, public health, environment, and culture. This film aims to bring forth to viewers sustainable, ethical and compassionate solutions to the negative consequences associated with dairy and beef production in India.
Facts
Facts you might NOT have known about the meat and dairy production and exports of India.
Interviews
Watch the key interviews featured in the Maa Ka Doodh documentary film.
Director's Statement
When I found out India has been one of the largest exporters of beef in the world, I was stunned. The perception I – and many Indians like me – always had growing up was that the vast majority of Indians were against beef, but this perception, as I realized, was contradicting the truth. The question, “how did we get here?” didn’t leave my mind. This triggered me to set out to find out how we became one of the largest beef exporters in the world. From the day I initiated this project, and up until its completion, this film has been awakening me.
I urge all the viewers of this film to experience first-hand the truths I have encountered and uncovered in this journey. This film would then serve as a stepping stone for those who wish to spread compassion in our world and bring justice to animals and humans alike.
‘Maa Ka Doodh’ isn’t just a title, it’s a reminder of motherhood. It is a reminder of the mother, among humans and animals, and symbolizes what she endures, produces and gives exclusively and entirely to her children.
I hope this documentary informs our daily choices as a consumer and empowers those voices with the information needed to fight abuse, malpractice and exploitation of animals. I pray this film empowers us all to build a better world for humans and animals alike.
Harsha Atmakuri
Director, Maa Ka Doodh.
Awards
Maa Ka Doodh has received the appreciations and love from the international community.
Cannes World Film Festival - Best Director
Cannes World Film Festival - Best Documentary
Cannes World Film Festival - Best Indian Film
Bangkok International Film Festival Award
Jaipur International Film Festival - Best Director
Jaipur International Film Festival - Best Documentary
Jaipur International Film Festival - Best Screenplay
Jaipur International Film Festival - Best Film Which Gives Global Message
The Filmmakers
about Empathy Films LLP.
Empathy Films LLP is a film production company with an underlying philosophy to produce films and other media-related projects to encourage and promote a cruelty-free, sustainable and compassionate society. Maa Ka Doodh is its first production.
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