Filmography

NUCLEAR NINJAS: THE CHINA, PAKISTAN, AND NORTH KOREA NEXUS

North Korea today is a declared nuclear power with a viable and standalone nuclear deterrent.  Was Pakistan one of the two countries that helped North Korea become a nuclear power? And did North Korea provide ballistic missiles  to Pakistan ?

THE TIBETAN CIRCUS

The cause of Tibetan freedom and its brutal repression by China resounds worldwide. Why did China overrun Tibet? Did India betray Tibet? Despite abandoning Tibet to gain favour with China, India paradoxically faces Chinese aggression on her former borders with Tibet. This film narrates this story.   

• Awarded Best Original Story for the “The Tibetan Circus” at Frida Film Festival, 2023.
• Awarded Best Documentary Feature for the “The Tibetan Circus” at London Movie Awards, 2023.
• Awarded Best Original Documentary for the “The Tibetan Circus” at New York Neorealism Film Awards, 2023.
• Awarded Best Documentary Feature for the “The Tibetan Circus” at Naples Film Awards, 2023.
• Awarded Best Feature Documentary for the “The Tibetan Circus” at Paris Film Awards, 2023.
• Awarded Best Documentary Feature for the “The Tibetan Circus” at Rome Movie Awards, 2023.

LIFE AFTER DEATH? – SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE

This is a contemporary cold war story that should be of interest to history buffs and conspiracy theorists. It looks at a relatively unexplored connection between the Indian freedom struggle against the British empire and Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Soviet Russia.  

• Won Best Features Documentary Award for the documentary “Life After Death? – Subhash Chandra Bose” at the Naples Film Awards 2022.
• Won Best Sound MusicAward for the documentary “Life After Death? – Subhash Chandra Bose” at the Toronto Documentary Feature & Short Film Festival, 2022

KASHMIR’S TROUBLED WATERS

1 X 45 Minutes Documentary
Kashmir’s Troubled Waters is based on the award-winning book“Kashmir’s Untold Story- Declassified “by authors Iqbal Chand Malhotra and Maroof Raza and is published by Bloomsbury. The film examines the link between terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir and the yet undeclared hybrid war between China & Pakistan on one side and India on the other side, for control of India’s legal share of the regions water supplies. Kashmir’s Troubled Waters celebrated a triple broadcast premiere on India Ahead news channel on 14 August 2020.

• Kashmir’s Troubled Waters Nominated for both best Documentary Programme (One –off /Special) and Best Current Affairs Programme at the Asian TV Awards, 2021 in Singapore.
• Won Best Director Award at the Chicago Cinemalia Film Festival 2020.
• Won Certificate of Honorable Mention at the International Innovation Film Festival 2021.
• Won Best Director Award at the World Film Carnival Singapore 2021.
• Won Best Documentary Film Award at the World Film Carnival Singapore 2021.
• Won Best Narrative Features Film Award at the World Film Carnival Singapore 2021.
• Won Best Features script Award at the World Film Carnival Singapore 2021.
• Won Best Documentary Outstanding Achievement Awardat theBrooklyn International Cinefest 2021.
• Won Best Feature Script Award at theBrooklyn International Cinefest 2021.
• Won Best Documentary Award at the India International Film Festival of Boston 2021
• Won Best Documentary Film Award at the Pattaya International Film Festival 2021
• Won Best Director Award at the Pattaya International Film Festival 2021
• Won Best Documentary Award at the International Innovation Film Festival 2021
• Won Best Director Outstanding Achievement Award at the Chicago Cinemalia Film Festival 2021.

SHAMANS OF THE HIMALAYAS REDUX

4 x 45 Minutes Documentary
The Shamans of the Himalayas is an experiential exploration of the extraordinary world of “Dev Bhoomi”- The Land of Gods, in the Kullu Valley of snow-capped mountains of Himachal Pradesh. This is a world of myth and magic, covered in 4 episodes of 60 minutes each, where every valley and village are home to several Gods and Goddesses (Devata’s& Devi’s).

The series follows Anu Malhotra, the presenter, as she takes the viewers on a journey, where she travels and interviews the Shamans, the locals, and some leading contemporary anthropologists and psychologists to contextualize the relationship between the people and their Gods.

Throughout the episodes, Anu manages to get unique access to the enigmatic Shamans of the Kullu Valley, which allows her to witness and experience rare and never documented sacred rituals, magical – religious practices, traditional healing techniques and exorcisms. She also interacts with the Shamans; locally called Gurs, who are oracles, trance mediums and healers, and gets a glimpse into their personal stories and struggles.

THE STORY OF JAMMU & KASHMIR

6 X 60 Minutes Documentary
When Partition was announced, Maharaja Hari Singh ruler of the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir got into negotiations with both India and Pakistan. His plan was toaccept merger with the country that gave ‘preferential treatment’ to his state. However, Pashtun tribesmen from Pakistan invaded Jammu and Kashmir, on the pretext that the Muslim majority population wants to merge with the newly formed Muslim nation of Pakistan. At this stage, the Maharaja appealed to India for help and signed the ‘Instrument of Accession’ on 26th October 1947, joining the dominion of India.

Since then, Kashmir has been the source of conflict between India and Pakistan. Even after 70 years, 4 wars and 3 treaties, no conclusion has been reached till now.

This 6-part series on Jammu and Kashmir reveals the historic compulsions that have resulted in the state being under siege since independence.

NETAJI BOSE – THE LOST TREASURE

1 X 60 Minutes Documentary
On August 18th, 1945, Indian political exile, Subhash Chandra Bose boarded a Mitsubishi Sally Bomber at Taihoku (Taiwan) bound for an undisclosed destination in Manchuria.  It crashed close to the Taihoku airfield itself. Bose was badly burnt and did not survive the explosion. Over the years, a host of arguments have questioned this plane crash theory. Netaji Bose- The Lost Treasure explores the credibility of this version and moves on to raise certain crucial questions that revolve around the Indian National Army.

Bose spent more than half of the decade of the 1930’s in exile in Central Europe. He developed close links with the Abwehr, the German Military Intelligence and in turn with the German Navy. It was this connection that led him to travel onboard a special submarine detachment called the Monsun Gruppe, headed to South East Asia. 

The Monsun Gruppe 33rd Flotilla based in Penang had34 German U Boats and 7 Italian transport submarines. They continued to operate well after Germany had surrendered. Could they have been transporting more than just men and weapons of war? Did their cargo include Gold? Netaji Bose The Lost Treasure reveals this aspect of WW2 for the first time on television.

• Won Best Scriptwriter Award at The Indian Telly Awards, 2018.

THE MONSUN GRUPPE & THE BOSE TREASURE

1 X 45 Minutes Documentary
The Monsun Gruppe & The Bose Treasurefollows the life of Subhash Chandra Bose and a Submarine during the events of WW2.

The film depicts the timeline from August 18th, 1945, when the Indian politician in exile, Subhash Chandra Bose accompanied by Lt. Gen TsunamasaShidei, Vice Chief of Japan’s Kwantung Army based in Manchuria boarded a Mitsubishi Sally Bomber at Taihoku (Taiwan) bound for an undisclosed destination in Manchuria, which was then rocked by an explosion at 2000 feet and crashed close to the Taihoku airfield itself. It was believed that Bose was badly burnt and did not survive the explosion.

The film also dwells on a popular belief that the crash was purely a deception engineered by the Japanese Secret Police to facilitate Bose’s escape from the Theatre of war in South East Asia to the Soviet Union and that Bose developed close links with the Abwehr, the German Military Intelligence during his exile that led him to travel onboard a special submarine detachment called the Monsun Gruppe, headed to South East Asia.

The Monsun Gruppe 33rd Flotilla based in Penang had 34 German U Boats and 7 Italian transport submarines. They continued to operate well after Germany had surrendered. The film focuses on the possibility that more than just men and weapons for war were transported in the cargo, perhaps gold.

LUXURY JOURNEYS ON INDIAN RAILWAYS
1 x 45 Minutes Documentary
Luxury Journeys on Indian Railways is based on the luxury trains of India and the fascinating destinations that it takes its guests to, all year round.

Beginning with a historical background to the train journeys of the country, the film takes the viewer on a royal tour of the most intriguing travel spots that India boasts of. The film is interspersed with old photographs of the initial train journeys that India undertook and archival footage of the Maharajas of Jodhpur travelling in their personal trains. The film is a fascinating display of the impeccable hospitality onboard the present-day luxury trains mixed with captivating tourist spots.

The five trains covered in this film are The Royal Rajasthan, The Indian Maharaja, Maharaja’s Express, Pride of the South and Southern Splendour.

As the trains wind its way through North, West, Central and South India, the guests are given a glimpse of the cultural diversity of the sub-continent. The film beautifully amalgamates these experiences of the guests with footage of the different spaces allowing the viewer to experience the voyage themselves.

REMONETIZING INDIA

1 X 60 Minutes Documentary
In a bid to fight currency counterfeiting, terrorism funding and the hoarding of black money, on November 8, 2016 the Government of India demonetized 86% of cash within its economy. Overnight, 500- and 1000-rupeenotes were declared illegal tender and had to be returned to banks within 50 days ending on December 30, 2016.In an economy, which is close to 90% reliant on cash, demonetization has led to serious consequences.

Commissioned by National Geographic Channel, India Remonetized is based on the journey of discovery of a manager and consultant of a corporate establishment and how he encounters and interacts with a range of people that puts into perspective the impact of demonetization on the Indian population. The film looks at the experiences of people from different walks of life who are experiencing the impact and challenges of this digital transformation. Interactions with experts interspersed with stories of people across the country put together a detailed narrative on this historic act by the Government of India.

SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE: THE MYSTERY

1 X 45 Minutes Documentary
Subhash Chandra Bose The Mystery is an attempt to unravel the secret behind the death of freedom fighter Netaji. With an innovative amalgamation of never-before-seen photographs and archival footage along with interesting interviews from around the world, this film gradually examines one theory after another. Was the bespectacled man at the Indo-Pak Peace Talks in Tashkent Bose or was he just a look-a-like? Why is JBP More certain that Netaji in fact spent the night of 17th August, 1945 in Saigon and was there the whole of 18th as well? How was politics of the Axis powers entwined with Bose’s plan to free India from the British? These and many more such questions are dealt with and investigated bringing to the fore many more probing questions. Therefore, it is a film that gives its audience a picture of Bose’s voyage through international politics and in the process, tries to reveal the truth behind the mystery that continues to cloud his death.

• Won Best Television Documentary at Indian Television Academy Awards, 2016

REVEALED: SIACHEN

1 X 45 Minutes Documentary
Revealed: Siachen tells the story of the Siachen Glacier and the challenges faced by the Indian soldier while on duty there. The focus is the Indian Army operations on land and in air under the continuing Operation Meghdoot. The story unfolds through the eyes of Major Amit Aukta – a new inductee, Capt.Deepshikha Pandey from the Army Medical Corps, Major Vikalp Sharma from the Army Aviation Corps and Col Hariharan, Base Commander at the Siachen Base Camp. The show travels with Indian officers and soldiers, to understand the logistics and intricacies they face duringtheirservice at the Siachen glacier.

1965 – INDIA’S BATTLES AND HEROES

1 X 45 Minutes Documentary
1965 – India’s Battles and Heroes recounts the significant 1965 India – focuses itself on the five major battles that took place during the war and commemorates the bravery of the five Army men who stood out for their exceptional commitment to their motherland. It follows a chronological recounting of the events that led to the war till the signing of the ceasefire agreement between the nations in 1966 at Tashkent, Russia. With a sneak peek into the regimental histories of the respective five Army men, the film speaks of a journey that the Indian Army took with a visual combination of archival footage of 1965 and present-day recreated footage. High-end 3D graphics of the main battle tanks of 1965 enhance the look of the film while establishing the ground level challenges that the Army faced with older technology. 1965 – India’s Battles and Heroes, thus, recollects India’s journey as it defends its borders from Pakistani aggression in the year 1965.

REVEALED – INDIA LIVING TRADITIONS

1 X 30 Minutes Documentary
Revealed: India Living Tradition showcases lesser-known facets of India’s vibrant cultural practices, fascinating living traditions, unique art forms and amazing natural phenomena. The episode takes viewers on explorations across India, revealing intriguing aspects of some of India’s lesser-known communities, customs, myths, folklore, festivals/fairs, performing arts and crafts, topography and architecture. Extensive research and identification of locations, practices and local characters has been an important part of the production process for the series.

YUDH ABHYAS – GURKHAS AND ARCTIC WOLVES

1 X 30 Minutes Documentary
In the film “YudhAbhyas – Gurkhas and Arctic Wolves” we go inside the so far secret world of Army-to-Army cooperation between the US Army and the Indian Army. We will reveal how they jointly prepare to face the challenges of an increasingly complex 21st century world. Their objective is to protect US and Indian interests worldwide. We show how the Indian Army’s Gurkhas and US Army’s Arctic Wolves combine to form a formidable force against terror.

REVEALED: LINE OF CONTROL

1 X 45 Minutes Documentary
The LOC was the original ceasefire line (CFL) that was agreed upon on 01 Jan’ 1949 following the first Indo-Pak war (1947- 1948) in J&K. The CFL was later modified after the 1971 war and re-designated as the Line of Control in June 1972, after the Simla Agreement. The delineated Line of Control – that is now accepted internationally as a de-facto divide – was finalized on December 11, 1972 at Suchetgarh between Lt. Gen. P.S. Bhagat, VC of the Indian Army, and Lt. Gen. Hameed Khan of the Pakistan Army. The show travels with Indian officers and soldiers, to understand how they defend the LOC, with training manoeuvres and border patrols. As part of the journey the series will also go behind the scenes to demonstrate the logistics, planning and technology that goes into monitoring this border.

• Nominated for Best TV Documentary and Best Videography at the 14th Indian Television Academy Awards, 2014.

REVEALED: NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY

1 X 45 Minutes Documentary
The film goes behind the scene to understand what makes the NDA such a unique institution. Steeped in tradition and lore, the film dwells upon the NDA being the first tri-services military academy in the world. The film charts out the history of the institution as the cradle of military leadership and the academy instils the qualities of a soldier into a young cadet who would in future go onto serving his nation with courage and pride. The film focuses on the training of the cadets from all the three services, the Army, Navy, and Air-Force. It explores the journey of cadets as they make their way through the three-year NDA course and how the institution trains them into becoming soldiers and future officers.

• Won a Gold Award for Best Technical Non-Fiction Sound, 2015.

REVEALED: RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN

1 X 43 Minute Documentary
The largest presidential estate of the world, stands at the peak of Raisina Hill in New Delhi. It was the heart of the British plan for a new imperial capital. The film captures the story of Rashtrapati Bhavan from its conception to its completion and the changes it saw as the home of the President of India. This film was produced for Discovery Channel India by Iqbal Malhotra.

SHAMANS OF THE HIMALAYAS

4 X 45 Minutes Documentary
In the shadow of the snow-capped mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India the world of myth and magic, where individualistic Gods, Goddesses, Nature Spirits and Demons are part of the daily life of local village communities as “living Gods”. Straddling these worlds of ordinary and non-ordinary reality are the Shamans, who mediate between the material and spirit worlds. Anu Malhotra, the director and presenter of the series, an acclaimed film maker, delves into this mysterious and mystical world.

LUXURY TRAIN JOURNEYS IN INDIA

5 X 45 Minutes Television Series
Each episode of the five-episode series Luxury Train Journeys in India takes the viewer on a journey to exotic locales on a luxury train that makes this experience a unique one. Each train journey discovers a different part of the country and the episode follow the train journey chronologically. The series was conceived, scripted, and produced by Iqbal Malhotra for the Travel Channel (UK).

THE JODHPUR ROYALS

2 X 45 Minutes Documentary
This is a unique access peek into the life and times of perhaps India’s greatest living royal family who are international celebrities not only because of their lineage, education, and lifestyle but because of the social causes they pursue with élan and sincerity.

TWO WEDDINGS IN THE TIME OF THE BRAVE

1 X 45 Minute Documentary
A story of how two brave Indian families whose religions originated in the Middle East have risen above fear and strife and celebrated life with all its joy. Ezra Moses and Fayaz Ahmad both Indians and yet both descendants of the Biblical Abraham, one a Jew and the other a Muslim, shrugged off their fear and raised their heads in bravery to brush aside the machinations of the Pakistan based terrorist mafia to celebrate their own freedom in an expression of joy and happiness by marrying off their children.

TEMPLES IN THE CLOUDS

1 X 45Minutes Documentary
A story of a challenging paragliding safari by Sir James Mallinson and Enrico Patuzzi in the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas. It is an unusual personal human-interest journey of two friends and their quest to succeed in flying to the temple of HimaniChamunda.

• Won “Icarus of the Morning Off“award at the ICARE DU CINEMA 26th edition of International Film Festival of Free Flight, 2008.

DARD-E-GANGA

1 X 60 Minute Documentary (Hindi)
The source of India’s greatest river, Ganga, is the Gangotri glacier, which is rapidly receding as a result of both global warming and manmade pollution. The film raises these questions and also highlights how India’s religion, culture, sociology and economics will be affected.

THE AGONY OF THE GANGES

1 X 45 Minute Documentary
The source of India’s greatest river, Ganga, is the Gangotri glacier, which is rapidly receding as a result of both global warming and manmade pollution. The film raises these questions and highlights how India’s religion, culture, sociology, and economics will be affected.

• Awarded for the Best Filmon Environment and Nature at the Inkafest Environment Film Festival, 2009, Lima, Peru.

THE CRADLE OF TERROR

1 X 45 Minute Documentary
The Cradle of Terror examines Pakistan’s role in promoting and sustaining the forces of terror under the garb of Jihad and looks at the role that the Pakistani state played in Nuclear Proliferation, under the auspices of Dr. A.Q Khan.

NUCLEAR TANGO – WHY A HERO FELL FROM GRACE

1 X 45 Minutes Documentary

That investigates and puts together why Dr. A.Q. Khan, the father of the Pakistani nuclear weapons program was made to take the rap and accept responsibility for having orchestrated the Pakistan –North Korea nuclear relationship.

• Officially Selected for IDFA – Docs for Sale, Amsterdam, 2006

THE SUFI AND THE SCIENTIST

1 X 45 Minutes Documentary

The Sufi and the Scientist is the collective story of Sufi Healer Arif Hussain whose salvation lies in healing people with the guidance of his spirit guide, the medieval Sufi Haji Ali and Dr. Thornton Streeter, a scientist working in the realm of human consciousness and trying like many others, to decipher the secrets of the consciousness and bridge the incompatibility of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity with the Theory of Quantum Mechanics.

• Officially Selected for Globians ® Potsdam World and Culture Documentary Film Festival 2006
• Officially selected for The International Festival of Televisao, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2006

MASSOUD: DESTINY’S AFGHAN

1 X 45 Minutes Documentary

The film is about the life and times of the Late Commander Ahmed Shah Massoud, who was assassinated by two Tunisian assassins on September 9th 2001, ostensibly as part of the 9/11 process to draw the US into the Afghan war. This film looks at Massoud’s life through the eyes of his colleagues and friends and examines what made him the great leader that he was.

• Officially selected for South Asian International Film Festival, 2007 in New York
• Officially selected for Globians ® Potsdam World and Culture Documentary Film Festival, 2007
• Officially selected for The International Festival of Televisao, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 21st –November 25th 2005
• Officially selected for IDFA- Docs for Sale, Amsterdam, November 25th – December 3rd, 2005
• Officially selected for River to River: Indian Film Festival, Florence, Italy, December 9th -December 15th 2005

THE DEVIL’S WIND

1 X 45 Minute Documentary

A documentary on the historical linkages between India, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan spanning the time between the late 19th century and the early 21st century.

THE LEGEND OF MALERKOTLA – A TALE FROM THE PUNJAB

1 X 45 Minute Documentary

A film that delves into perplexing questions of how Hindus and Muslims can live peacefully and profitably in the Indian sub- continent and shows how the inhabitants of the Muslim majority town of Malerkotla in Indian Punjab, have led the way in this endeavour.

• Officially selected for 3rd Annual Spinning Wheel Film Festival 2005, New York, USA
• Officially selected for the 2nd Annual Spinning Wheel Film Festival 2004, Toronto, Canada.
• Won the Best TV Documentary of the Year at the Indian Telly Awards 2004.

THE NEW GREAT GAME – THE RIVER OF DESTINY

1 X 45 Minute Documentary

The New Great Game – The River of Destiny is a film on the role of Pakistan in Afghanistan and Central Asia.

THE NEW GREAT GAME – REAPING THE WHIRLWIND

1 X 45 Minute Documentary

The New Great Game – Reaping the Whirlwind is a film that looks at Post-Taliban Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan in terms of Islamic fundamentalism and the large natural gas reserves of Turkmenistan that must necessarily transit through Afghanistan to markets in India and elsewhere.

THE ROAD TO NIRVANA- A JOURNEY IN TIBET

1 X 45 Minute Documentary

The Road to Nirvana- A journey in Tibet is a travelogue that takes the viewers through the spiritual, cultural, and political history of Tibet and its centuries old interaction with India.

• Nominated for the Best TV Documentary of the Yearat the Indian Telly Awards 2004.