Saurav Vishnu is an Indian director and producer,[1][2] known for his works on films like Tailing Pond and Guilty Not Guilty.[3] Tailing pond qualified for consideration for the 93rd Academy Awards in the Documentary – Short category.[4][5]
Saurav Vishnu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Jharkhand, India |
| Alma mater | St. Johns University, New York NIT Jamshedpur |
| Occupations | Director Producer Documentary film maker |
| Years active | 2015−present |
| Known for | Tailing Pond (2021 Film) |
Early life
editSaurav Vishnu was born in Jharkhand, India, and moved from Jamshedpur, India to New York City in 2003.[6] A graduate of engineering, Saurav Vishnu pursued an MBA in finance and risk management at St. John's University.[7] A graduate of engineering from NIT Jamshedpur.[8][9]
Career
editPolitical career
editSaurav Vishnu is also a politician.[10] He was a candidate for a member of parliament in May 2025 from East Singhbhum. Jamshedpur constituency.[11][12] Later, he also contested as a member of the legislative assembly in November 2025 from Jamshedpur East.[13][14][15] Saurav Vishnu was named Jharkhand's first billionaire candidate, with an approximate worth of over 100 crore rupees, in comparison to all the nomination paper filed by each candidates, in Jharkhand legislative assembly elections.[8][9] He was Independent candidate in both elections.[16] His campaign was focused on education, health, and employment issues.[17]
Filmmaking
editJadugora was Saurav's first filmmaking project, as his father, Ashok Kumar Tiwary, was posted as the officer-in-charge of Jadugora police station twice.[18] The film took 5 years to complete.[19] A non for profit 501(c)(3) organization was formed in 2017 to raise funds for the Jadugora communities.[20]
The documentary exposes the plight of the tribal families in the small town of Jadugora because of the tailing ponds containing mildly radioactive, unguarded waste. As per the reports "47% of women in Jadugora have reported miscarriages, disruptions in menstrual cycles, and other fertility issues. Further, 51% of the children are afflicted with limb deformities and skeletal distortions, right at birth".[21]
This is contrary to claims made by UCIL regarding their investments in healthcare, ecology, and environmental protection, in their annual report for the session 2019-20 that also recorded income of Rs 2,420 crores/$310 million.[22] The documentary shows the abysmal healthcare facilities, and how the only medical centre remains closed for most part of the year.
Per Vishnu, subsequent documentary films would delve deeper into the issue of tailing ponds. (UCIL has acquired new pieces of land to construct new tailing ponds).[23]
In February 2024, Saurav released trailers for his two upcoming documentary feature films. The first film, ‘Nine months in Chatikocha,’ is the second movie in the Tailing Pond six-part documentary series.[24] Nine months in Chatikocha,’ is about trials and tribulations of villagers in Chatikocha, Jaduguda whose land and houses were taken over by UCIL.[23] The film depicts the pain of the people living in the area.[10] The second upcoming documentary film, tentatively entitled ‘Tata,’ is about civic rights of citizens in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.[23]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Writer | Director | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Guilty Not Guilty | Yes | ||
| 2021 | Tailing Pond | Yes | Yes | |
| TBA | Nine months in Chatikocha[23] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TBA | Tata[23] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TBA | One | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Social Work
editSaurav is also a social activist.[25] He has filed a case against the industrial Conglomerate Tata Group, aka Tata Steel, against converting Jamshedpur into an industrial town, which will deny citizens of Jamshedpur third voting rights to choose a mayor for their municipality.[26][27][28][29] This issue has long been debated at both the state and national levels and opens up discussion around self-government and good governance. Critics debate over corporate control of a large population in Jamshedpur as deterioration of the three-layered democratic system.[30] Saurav also worked on the compensation of victims of MGM Medical College.[31][32] He worked for open spaces for citizens,[33] tree plantation,[34] and for retired employees of Tata Steel.[35]
References
edit- ↑ IANSLive. "Filming fission reaction like tragedies in Jadugora". IANS Live. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ↑ "Among Bollywood-backed Indian short films, a documentary on Jadugora eyes spot in Oscars shortlist". The Indian Express. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ↑ "पुरस्कार विजेता शॉर्ट फिल्म 'टेलिंग पॉन्ड' को डॉक्यूमेंट्री सीरीज में बनाया जाएगा". www.navodayatimes.in (in Hindi). 12 November 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ↑ "Documentary short film 'Tailing Pond' tracing the impact of uranium mining in Jadugora in consideration for 93rd Academy Awards". www.business-standard.com. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ↑ "Award-winning short film Tailing Pond to be made into documentary series". The Statesman. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ↑ "film detail – NYIFF – New York Indian Film Festival". Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ↑ "AWARD-Winning Short Film 'Tailing Pond' Announces WORLDWIDE TV PREMIERE". Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- 1 2 "Jharkhad Election 2024: झारखंड को मिला पहला अरबपति कैंडिडेट, जमशेदपुर पूर्वी से कोल्हान के सबसे धनी उम्मीदवार सौरभ विष्णु का नॉमिनेशन". Navbharat Times (in Hindi). Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- 1 2 "Jamshedpur News : जमशेदपुर पूर्वी से निर्दलीय सौरभ विष्णु कोल्हान के सबसे धनी प्रत्याशी, दंपती के पास 100 करोड़ से अधिक की संपत्ति". Prabhat Khabar (in Hindi). 26 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- 1 2 "Jamshedpur News: टाटा व जादूगोड़ा पर बन रही फिल्म का ट्रेलर हुआ रिलीज, फिल्म डायरेक्टर सौरभ विष्णु लड़ेंगे लोकसभा चुनाव - Trailer of film being made on Tata and Jaduguda released film director Saurabh Vishnu will contest Lok Sabha elections". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता सौरव विष्णु ने की लोक सभा चुनाव लड़ने की घोषणा". www.livehindustan.com (in Hindi). 18 February 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Saurav Vishnu". www.news18.com. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Jamshedpur east saurabh vishnu : जमशेदपुर पूर्वी मे निर्दलीय सौरभ विष्णु ने लगाया दम, किया जनता से ये वादा". Sharp Bharat (in Hindi). 12 November 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "सैकड़ों समर्थकों के साथ आज युवा और चर्चित नेता सौरव विष्णु ने किया जमशेदपुर पूर्वी से किया नामांकन, कहा, "उद्देश्य स्पष्ट है—विकास, आत्मनिर्भरता, और बेहतर भविष्य का निर्माण"". Mashal News - मशाल न्यूज़. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Jamshedpur News:निर्दलीय प्रत्याशी सौरभ विष्णु ने किया आज नामांकन दाखिल". Bihar Jharkhand News Network. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Congress misleading public on 86 Basti Lease Issue: Saurav Vishnu". The Avenue Mail. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Independent candidate Saurav Vishnu to file nomination for Jamshedpur East". Town Post. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Saurav Vishnu's Tailing Pond puts the spotlight on the ill-effects of uranium mining in Jharkhand". www.indulgexpress.com. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ↑ "Tailing Pond: The Story of Jadugora". Best Indian American Magazine | San Jose CA | India Currents. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ↑ "AWARD-Winning Short Film 'Tailing Pond' Announces WORLDWIDE TV PREMIERE". Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ↑ "'Tailing Pond' is Just the First Step in Saurav Vishnu's Quest to Unveil the Horrors of Uranium Contamination in an East Indian Village". Silverscreen India. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ↑ "Annual Report of UCIL". ucil.gov.in. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Jamshedpur's Sourav Vishnu documenting problems hidden under layers of assurances". The Avenue Mail. 18 February 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Cynthia Nixon, Saurav Vishnu Team for 'Tailing Pond' Documentary Series, Short Film to Bow on ShortsTV (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "लाल बाबा फाउंड्री की लंबी और संयमपूर्ण लड़ाई होगी : सौरव विष्णु". www.livehindustan.com (in Hindi). 1 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "HC to wait for SC decision on industrial town status for JSR". The Times of India. 14 September 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Supreme Court decision pending on Jamshedpur's Industrial Town status". The Avenue Mail. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "जमशेदपुर को इंडस्ट्रियल टाउन बनाए जाने पर हाईकोर्ट ने जताई आपत्ति, मांगा जवाब". www.livehindustan.com (in Hindi). 7 September 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "High Court scrutinizes Industrial Town notification for Jamshedpur". The Avenue Mail. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ Paul, Aniek (25 July 2018). "Battle for the soul of Jamshedpur". mint. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता सौरभ विष्णु ने एमजीएम अस्पताल दुर्घटना मामले में हाई कोर्ट के मुख्य न्यायाधीश को लिखा पत्र". www.livehindustan.com (in Hindi). 31 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Jamshedpur social worker protest - उपायुक्त कार्यालय पर सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता सौरभ विष्णु का प्रदर्शन, एमजीएम हादसे में मृतक के परिजनों को मुआवजा देने और मृत्यु प्रमाण पत्र बनाने की मांग, देखिए - video". Sharp Bharat (in Hindi). 5 June 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Jamshedpur news. गोपाल मैदान में डीसी ऑफिस बनाने का सौरभ विष्णु ने किया विरोध". Prabhat Khabar (in Hindi). 16 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "मानगो-साकची फ्लाईओवर के नीचे फायर हाइड्रेंट लगाने की मांग". www.livehindustan.com (in Hindi). 19 March 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Tata steel registered relations : टाटा स्टील के सेवानिवृत कर्मचारियों के रजिस्टर्ड बच्चों से मिले लोकसभा प्रत्याशी सौरभ विष्णु, साथ देने का किया वादा". Sharp Bharat (in Hindi). 26 April 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.