Nalpathanchamathe Nadi: Documentary on green activist screened

The maiden screening of Malayalam documentary, Nalpathanchamathe Nadi (The 45th River), was held in Kochi on Saturday.

The 30-minute film, featuring the life of veteran environmentalist V M Gopinatha Pillai, was screened at the Krithi International Festival of Books and Authors.

Gopinatha Pillai, 79, who has been instrumental in forming a law for the protection of rivers in Kerala, was honoured by environmentalist C R Neelakandan after the screening.

Addressing the gathering, Gopinatha Pillai vowed to continue his efforts for the protection of the environment no matter whatever threats he has to face.

The documentary was directed by Ragesh Gopinathan. Cinematography is by Jijo Abraham while Pinto Varkey is the editor.

The makers said 'Nalpathanchamathe Nadi' is a tribute to Gopinatha Pillai's decades-long efforts for the conservation of the environment.

A native of Kottangal in Pathanamthitta district, Gopinatha Pillai plunged into the realm of conservation way back in 1985 when he took on some local sand miners. His efforts, through legal recourse, to regulate rampant sand mining in the Manimalayar led to the framing of the first law towards the protection of rivers in Kerala. Over the years, he became associated with a number of environmental issues.

He is a recipient of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board's award for nature conservation.