Veteran animation director Suresh Eriyat and his crew at Studio Eeksaurus in Mumbai showcase the cultural importance of Deccani sheep and their wool in this music-driven film for Indian research institute Centre for Pastoralism.

Suresh Eriyat: “Blending folklore, ecology, and quiet protest, the film celebrates the resilience of the Deccani sheep and the pastoral wisdom of those who once revered it. At the same time, it mourns the fading relevance of this indigenous wool in modern India, where it is discarded even as foreign wool is imported.

“Creating this film was both an exciting and ambitious endeavor, especially since nothing like it had been attempted in India before. The team invested significant time in research and development, exploring various visual treatments and storytelling approaches to arrive at a unique narrative style.
 

“One of the creative challenges was to depict wool not just in its organic form but as a living character — one that could guide the audience through the entire journey”

 
“One of the creative challenges was to depict wool not just in its organic form but as a living character — one that could guide the audience through the entire journey from sheep to ghongdi. Balancing this artistic concept with clarity and engagement was key for sustaining viewer interest.

“We experimented with on-set felting, crafting each frame to maintain the tactile and handmade essence of the wool. This intensive frame-by-frame production, paired with a tight three-month schedule, was one of the most demanding aspects of the project.

“Music played a crucial role in carrying the narrative forward. The lyrics needed to weave together information, emotion, and authenticity — all while being catchy and accessible. We were fortunate to collaborate with industry legends like composer Rajat Dholakia and lyricist-singer Swanand Kirkire, whose contributions brought the story to life with both charm and depth.

“Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty also lent his expertise, crafting a rich soundscape that echoed the textures and rhythms of village life. His nuanced work added a layer of immersion that made the world of the film even more tangible and emotionally resonant.”
 
 

 
Client: Centre For Pastoralism

Production: Studio Eeksaurus
Director: Suresh Eriyat
EP: Nilima Eriyat
Animation Director: Aman Gupta
Cinematography: Bilu Tom Matthew, Arun Kumar, Aman Gupta (Camera)
Art Direction: Aman Gupta
Storyboard: Suresh Eriyat
Animatic/Character Design: Adithi Krishnadas
Color Layouts/Title Design: Nijin Nazeem
Visual Design: Aman Gupta, Isha Gupta
Project Lead: Aman Gupta
Production Manager: Nishant Ajay Nandgaonkar
Production Assistant: Jay Gondalia
Stopmotion Animation Technical Director: Aman Gupta
Animator: Aman Gupta, Maithili Desai, Utkarsh Bankar, Sanjay Patkar
Assistant Animator: Sakshi Kamat, Kush Koyani, Hari Pasupula, Jay Gondalia, Nikhil Patil, Isha Gupta, Neel Ranadive
Lead Designer: Isha Gupta
Prop Designer: Charulata Bendale, Ramesh Jadhav, Hari Pasupala, Kush Koyani, Sakshi Kamat, Nikhil Patil
Set Design: Nikhil Patil, Neel Ranadive, Aman Gupta
Character Modeling: Isha Gupta, Hari Pasupala, Sanjay Patkar
Armatures/Rigging: Hari Pasupala, Sanjay Patkar, Aman Gupta, Nikhil Patil, Isha Gupta
Team Eeksaurus: Nijin Nazeem, Gia Sudhakaran, Soham Samant, Shania Brinda Symons, Tanvi Palathinkal, Dhiraj Pathade, Anubhav Maharana, Nitya Shah, Gauri Sridhar

Post: After Studios
Post Production Lead: Toash Bhat
Clean Up: Toash Bhat, Teena Thomas, Neel Ranadive, Kush Koyani, Jay Gondalia
3D FX: Pranav Rupala
Compositing: Aman Gupta, Toash Bhat, Mark D’Rozario
Senior Colorist: Avinash Shukla
Colorist: Saurav Negi
Conformist: Sandeep Kamble, Prem Sharma

Music Direction: Rajat Dholakia
Lyricist/Singer: Swanand Kirkire

Sound Design: Resul Pookutty (CAS, MPSE), Vijay Kumar (MPSE)

Recording Studio: Ajivasan Studio, Chitrabhasha Studio

Sound Studio: Canaries Post Sound

Foley Studio: Foley Walkers India