Described by Khatija Rahman, ‘Stardust’ disappears and highlights fireflies

Each year for a fleeting fortnight, dense rainforests of Anamalai in Tamil Nadu are converted into a scope of bioluminent magic. As the forest is dark, it burst into a silent symphony of light – millions of fireflies can synchronize their brightness in one of the most rich natural phenomena. This is a rare and almanac spectacle StardustA short film and protection heard by composer Khatija Rahman tries to capture, capture and celebrate by filmmaker Praveen Shanmughanandam.

More than three -year laborious fieldwork revealed, Stardust Only one visual treatment is more than treatment. It is a gentle reminder of the world that thrives quietly around us and is a call to re -connect with the rhythm of nature that modern life has taught us to ignore.

Surprise

“Those of us who are growing near the foothills, fireflies were always part of our childhood memories,” Pravin says, who is from the region and is also the founder of Polachi Pepirus. “But somewhere, due to mild pollution, the loss of the habitat or simply not visible, we forgot them.”

Forgetting that collective, their redistribution became more poignant. “When we first saw this collective congregation, it was fully enchanted. We did not even know how to react with our cameras or what to do. It was only in the second year that we returned with a plan, better equipped and designed to document them in such low-light situations.”

Photograph in full darkness, and rely on the memory of the touching equipment and muscle, without using flashlights, without using flashlights to avoid harassing insects. Sometimes, an infrared torch provided enough visibility to frame the shot.

A story through light

But Stardust There is not a scientific documentary. Instead, it takes a lyrical approach. Its scene is associated with the daughter of composer R Rahman, with a gentle, introspection statement by Khatija. Known for his work in music and cinema, Khatija prepared himself for the project for personal reasons.

“The title ‘Fireflies’ immediately grabbed my eye,” she says. “My first film is also called album MinminiSo it felt like a beautiful, full-cycle moment. A few years ago, I went to a boat ride in Malaysia with family to watch fireflies, and now I was here, giving voice to a film about them. ,

Khatija’s voiceover session, from his own account, was simple and intuitive. “Pravin was very clear about the tone and layers he wanted. The brief was specific, and I tried separately under his guidance. The final combination of the statement came as a beautiful surprise.”

His voice becomes a groove for the deep message of the film: it begins with conservation connection. “You cannot protect that does not inspire you,” says Pravin. “Fireflies are delicate indicators of ecological balance. But instead of giving lectures, we wanted to surprise, especially in children who never saw him. Stardust Hope to do it. ,

Stils from ‘Starust’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Cooperation for care

The partnership between Praveen’s team and Khatija grew beyond the studio. “She showed me shots, shared a beautiful calendar, and explained her earlier work,” she remembers. “What they do has a lot of passion. I really hope Stardust Finds its way for large platforms; it is worthy. ,

His work on the film has also inspired new artistic ambitions. “I would like to do more voiceover and even like to score for such documentaries. It is fulfilling and treating it. There is a certain purity in working on something closely related to nature.”

Pravin, also, speaks of a changed perspective after a long journey of years. “We are so busy and progressing that we have stopped seeing what we are losing. These fireflies are likely to gather for centuries, but recently they have been studied and documented. We should be cautious and open. Nature still has countless secrets.”

Currently, local tribal communities such as Kadar and Malasar, many of which are employed by the forest department, assist in field research. Praveen hopes that his role will increase with the emergence of dedicated conservation programs. “They know these forests intimately. They can play an important role in saving what is left.”

At its core, Stardust Is about the lights. Not only fireflies, but also each of the internal light bears each of us, as reflects Khatija. “I hope that people will see the message in this film that we should take care of nature because it is a gift to humans from God. If we ignore nature, it will quietly leave us, as if we have already lost.”