‘Crossing Paths’: Actor Samyukta Hornad makes directorial debut with wildlife documentary

Kannada actor Samyukta Hornad is set for her directorial debut with Crossing Paths, a documentary exploring the growing human–elephant conflict, presented on World Elephant Day.

The film is cinematographed by Pratheek Shetty, known for his work on Kantara, Gandhada Gudi, and 777 Charlie.

The makers said in a release, “As forests shrink and habitats are increasingly fragmented by human activity, elephants are being pushed into spaces shared with people, creating conflict that affects both communities and wildlife. Crossing Paths looks at this conflict and the urgent need to find sustainable ways for humans and animals to coexist.”

“At a time of climate change, environmental destruction and increasing violence around us, Crossing Paths hopes to bring attention to a quieter but deeply urgent conflict — and to the possibility of coexistence.”

The official logline of Crossing Paths reads, “The film follows Project EaDDS (Elephant Anti-Depredation Dog Squad), an initiative by A Rocha India, working in association with the Karnataka Forest Department to reduce human–elephant conflict through conservation and early-response measures.”

Avinash Krishnan is part of the A Rocha India team handling the EaDDS programme. Eshwar B. Khandre, Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Government of Karnataka; Pushkar Kumar, PCCF; Manoj Rajan, Project Head, Project Elephant; and Saurabh Kumar, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Hassan, are the prominent personalities associated with the project.