Vanishing River
Directors: Shamik Sanyal & Paushali Saha
"As the Teesta River transforms into something unrecognizable, Shanti Rai, India’s first female
rafter, fights to hold on to the identity she built on its waters ,while confronting the possibility that neither she nor the river can ever return to who they once were."
Project Update!
This deeply personal documentary follows Shanti, a former rafter-turned-river rescuer, as she navigates the increasingly volatile Teesta River in the Eastern Himalayas. Through her story, the film explores the profound ecological and emotional toll of climate change, damming, and displacement, revealing how the Teesta is not just vanishing, but transforming into a force both unpredictable and unforgiving.
In 2024, Vanishing River was pitched at the Green Stories Pitch Forum, where it received valuable feedback and industry support. Since then, the project has been awarded the NEWF Africa Refocused Award and received equipment support from NEWF, helping us move the film into production. Most recently, Vanishing River was selected for the Producerland Co-Production Lab, where we are further developing the film's international co-production and financing strategy with mentors and industry professionals.
As filming continues, our team remains focused on capturing the lived experiences of those who remain deeply connected to the Teesta, even as its course and character continue to shift.
Thank you for being part of this journey. More updates from the field soon.
