The 18th Elephant
Three Monologues

Men and money. This film is a powerful critique of modern man’s mercenary attitude towards nature and his anthropocentric conception of development. The sad plight of the elephant in both its wild and domesticated states exposes clearly how such behavior brings death and wreaks havoc on the lives and habitats of other species. Shot over five years, this is Balan’s third film.

Ram Bahadur Trophy for Best Film, Film South Asia ’03.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Born in rural Kannur, Kerala, P Balan was active in the film society movement in that state. His first documentary, the 1997 Aanpoove, won the Kerala State TV Award and a special jury mention at the Oberhausen International Film Festival. Balan, who also works in radio, is concerned with subjects related to human rights, natural resource management, ecology, traditional knowledge systems, and gender discrimination.