BILLA:

“I want to call out to everybody
Only the one who loses life knows what pain it is
Death plagues only the innocent and naive
Only the one who loses life knows what pain it is”

Billa’s Wular Lake, Asia’s Largest Fresh Water Lake, a world heritage wetland site under the Ramsar Convention charter of UNESCO. UNESCO serves as the depository for the convention, which provides for international cooperation for the conservation of wetland habitats, conservation thus becomes obligatory but Wular Lake is yet to see the light of the day.

BILLA used to study in a government school and both his parents used to work hard to make them study. But after his father’s death, He couldn’t continue as responsibilities came. He had to carry family’s burden. His first try to ear livelihood was at a local auto-mechanic shop. But he needed to learn the trade before he could start earning. He needed time and patience, which were both alien entities for him.

Desperate and exhausted Billa found refuge with Wular. Wular was his father’s source of livelihood, the savior of his family. And once again it came to the rescue. Wular offers its bounties to tens of thousands of people living on its banks. How could it disappoint Billa? Billa dreams of building a house and marry his two sisters once they finish studies. He acts like their father.

Billa’s effort may be a minuscule attempt but the thought in deed and need is incredible, He has made a redeeming difference to the Wular, something that the society in Kashmir has generally overlooked. Billa’s story might be a spark to ignite the debate and therein an effort to invigorate the people’s resolve to save the Wular, which we need for our existence, and for generations to come.

About the Filmmaker

Submitted by JALAL UD DIN BABA

Jalal Ud Din Baba is a National Award Winning (Gorilla) Documentary Filmmaker, Researcher, Cinematographer and Editor. He belongs to world famous tourist resort of Kashmir Valley (Indian side) born and brought up with humble farming background legacy. Where nature’s bounties are upheld with great respect and restraint. He has a great sense for good story narratives, characters and visuals. In pursuit of filmmaking, shrugging off everything for camera. He is a go-getter and doer rather just a dreamer. His area of interest in filmmaking is environment, wildlife and adventure, and issues related to children and human rights.

Director/Producer Filmography:-

PASHTOON’S BEYOND TALIBAN: A film on Pashtoons from Kashmir to Pakistan.
SAVING THE SAVIOUR: Film on Asia’s largest fresh water lake Wular Kashmir.
SHROUDED PARADISE: A feature documentary film on Kashmir Floods 2014.
MOUNTAIN OF HUMANITY: A Sacred Journey (Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2015)
GLOBAL WARNING: Kashmir Chapter (2016)
NOORI-Words First Pashmina Clone Goat (2016)

AWQARDS: SAVING THE SAVIOUR- BILLA THE SAVIOUR
6th NATIONAL SCIENCE FILM FESTIVAL (NSFF), GOLDEN BEAVER BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM AND DIRECTOR AWARD, VIGYAN PRASAR, DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MUMBAI, 13th February, 2016.