Shreya Ramachandran, Manager, Programmes: Business and Policy, Asia Society India Centre, spoke with Nitin Das, Founder of Filmkaar and The Healing Forest. Nitin’s work as a storyteller and filmmaker draws from the serenity and calm of the natural world to create socially mindful, impactful, and relevant narratives.

Nitin speaks about his motivations as a filmmaker, the lessons on leadership to learn from nature, and the importance of visual storytelling in creating a better future.

Could you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your work?

Hi, I am Nitin from India. I run filmkaar.com, a communications consultancy that crafts socially relevant films and campaigns. Our YouTube channel has over 2 million subscribers. I am also the founder of The Healing Forest, a project based on the Japanese concept of using creativity, mindfulness, and nature to create positive transformations in life. My latest experiment is the ‘Kindness Lab’—an online program that trains people to use their smartphones and create short, heart-warming videos that spread seeds of kindness for self, others, and nature.

What motivates your work in filmmaking and storytelling - what difference do you hope to make?

Stories have a way of connecting people. They help us understand different people's lives, expanding our perspectives. A truly great film offers a unique way to escape into a different world for a little while!

Movies help us learn from our past, document our present and shape our future. They can inspire us to make the world a better place. In an age of smartphones, knowing how to use the power of visual storytelling has become even more important. Videos give us a unique opportunity for sharing our ideas with a larger audience, creating awareness as well as action.

What, according to you, makes a good leader?

I feel a good leader needs to have two essential qualities. One is the ability to have the vision to look into the future. To foresee the challenges as well as the opportunities. The second is the skill to translate this vision in a way that inspires and galvanises people into action.

Considering the intricacies of South Asian culture and experience, there is a gap in the available conventional wisdom and conversations surrounding leadership and problem solving. It can be a challenge to adopt conventional ideas to work through situations that are in need of culturally specific solutions. As a leader, what has your experience been while addressing such complications?

I have always turned to nature for answers. I’ve found that nature offers wonderful guidance when facing complex, culturally specific challenges. Nature is universal — it connects us all beyond boundaries of culture or convention. When I feel unsure, I observe the way nature resolves conflicts, adapts, and thrives in diversity. It reminds me to stay patient, to listen deeply, and to approach problems with an open mind. Just as in nature, solutions often come when we allow space for them to emerge, rather than forcing them into a specific mould.
 

Given that mentorship is a significant part of the Asia 21 fellowship, how do you think it has contributed to your development as an emerging leader? How do you feel about mentoring aspiring, young leaders?

The Asia 21 Fellowship has been a memorable experience for me, connecting me with a diverse group of leaders from various cultures and backgrounds. Through our conversations, travels, and shared stories, I’ve been exposed to a wealth of perspectives that have deeply enriched my approach to filmmaking. Each encounter offers new insights that help me bring new ideas to life as films. For example, during my travels with the Asia 21 fellows in Bhutan, my interactions with Adam Gilmore from NASA gave me a great idea for my film 'Class of Rowdies'. On the trip we also created this short film to promote tourism in Bhutan.

I believe mentoring is absolutely essential. It’s through mentoring that we can help shape the voices and stories of tomorrow, ensuring that the next generation of leaders is equipped with the wisdom and guidance to create meaningful impact.

Who are some Asia 21 fellows, from your cohort and otherwise, whose leadership and work consistently inspires you?

I would like to mention Rashneh Pardiwala for her work in environmental restoration and education. Also Satchit Balsari for his earnestness and work in the health sector.