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Maa Ka Doodh: Uncovering A Nation’s Dairy Disaster

Maa Ka Doodh (Mother's Milk): Uncovering A Nation’s Dairy Disaster is an investigative feature-length documentary film about the untold stories behind the success of India’s White Revolution - The World’s Largest Dairy Production and Development Campaign. It also explores the ethical, cultural, environmental, religious, economic, social, and political complexities the consumption of dairy in India has created since millennia. The film uncovers how India became one of the largest exporters of beef in the world and its direct link to the nation’s dairy industry, along with the negative impacts of this industry on India’s bovine population, public health, environment, and culture, with the aim of finding novel, sustainable and ethical solutions.

  • Harsha Atmakuri
    Director
  • Harsha Atmakuri
    Writer
  • Harsha Atmakuri
    Producer
  • Zachary Lovas
    Producer
  • Suresh Sharma
    Producer
  • Maneka Gandhi
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Acharya Prashant
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Gauri Maulekhi
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Abhinav Srihan
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    2 hours 5 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 9, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    54,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Harsha Atmakuri

Dr. Harsha Atmakuri is a general physician turned animal rights activist. He came to know about veganism when he was working as a medical writer; and as soon as he chose to be a vegan, he began participating in various animal rights awareness campaigns such as public outreaches, lectures, etc. To make the reach wider he began making short documentary videos and began uploading them on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube. As time went on, he decided to quit his job to become a full-time animal rights activist and undertook an investigative journey to make a film about India’s dairy industry, to find out how India’s dairy and beef industries operate and if there is a link between India being the largest producer of dairy in the world, and in it also being one of the world’s largest exporters of beef. This is his first documentary film project.

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Director Statement

When I found out India has been one of the largest exporters of beef in the world, I was stunned. The perception I - and many Indians like me - always had growing up was that the vast majority of Indians were against beef, but this perception, as I realized, was contradicting the truth. The question, "how did we get here?" didn't leave my mind. This triggered me to set out to find out how we became one of the largest beef exporters in the world. From the day I initiated this project, and up until its completion, this film has been awakening me.

I urge all the viewers of this film to experience first-hand the truths I have encountered and uncovered in this journey. This film would then serve as a stepping stone for those who wish to spread compassion in our world and bring justice to animals and humans alike.

'Maa Ka Doodh' isn't just a title, it's a reminder of motherhood. It is a reminder of the mother, among humans and animals, and symbolizes what she endures, produces and gives exclusively and entirely to her children.

I hope this documentary informs our daily choices as a consumer and empowers those voices with the information needed to fight abuse, malpractice and exploitation of animals. I pray this film empowers us all to build a better world for humans and animals alike.