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The riddle of Roopkund lake started in 1942 when a forest ranger
unearthed a mass grave. Since then various theories have floated
about as to why it happened. Miditech roped in German cultural anthropologist
William Sax to help uncover the mystery. Sax led an expedition to
the area and took
samples of skulls, flesh which were then examined in
Indian and UK labs. Existing theories like the bodies belonged to
an army were then discarded before the truth was arrived at.
NGC's investigation found that there were two ethnic groups involved.
One group had people related to one another. There were several
women and children. The film took a year and three months to make.
According to Miditech CEO Nikhil Alva who co-wrote the
script with his brother Niret Alva, the biggest challenge was making
a human story from a cold scientific investigation that viewers
could relate to. "It was going to be a huge challenge to make
the viewers care about something that happened in the 9th century
AD. This was a personal project for me. In college in the mid 1980's
while trekking I learnt about this site. Of course at that time
there was little television."
He also said, "Then a couple of years ago we met National
Geographic at Cannes and learnt that they were going to create a
new strand of series. They were keen on doing something that involved
India. We suggested this idea for them and they gave the go ahead.
We roped in Professor sax as someone who narrates the story because
we wanted someone that the global audience could identify with.
Sax has a close connection with India and is therefore able to give
a complete picture of what is going on."
Alva added that research was the hardest aspect of the project.
It took 30-40 per cent of work allocated. "Facts are checked
and cross checked by three different sources. That is because we
are putting forth an argument here. It had to be backed up by scientific
fact. What is interesting is that while we came up with a theory
of where exactly the people were from the sample size was too small
as per National
Geographic's requirements.
"We had a sample size of 600-700. However the channel
requires a sample size between 8,000-10,000. Therefore
our theory of where the people were from was not included in the
film. For the recreation footage we used hailstorms footage as well
as actors.
"In December we will be giving another project to NGC which
will be completely different. This will examine why a particular
animal species is becoming extinct. That makes three projects from
us this year after Leopards Of Bollywood and now Skeleton
lake. Next year we will be adding another three. The genres
are different and so is our approach. For instance the animal project
will not have any recreation footage."
Meanwhile the first episode of FIR examines the Secret
Of Einstein's Brain. A rediscovery is done about whether the
nature of brain holds the key to the secret of genius. Another episode
looks at the macabre Masscare At Putna Lobos. 700 years ago
200 people fishermen had their throats slit by the banks of a river.
Their blood flows into the sand and sea
painting the coastline dark red. Was this a ritual
sacrifice or a mass slaughter meant to fulfill another purpose?
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