Little Planet – A Filmmaker’s Story
Frogs have traditionally been among the most overlooked animals in wildlife. They are often forgotten, while the big, charismatic mammals get most of the attention. Filmmaker Suhas Premkumar set out to change that.
In this SAVE THE FROGS! South Asia Meetup, Suhas shares the story behind Little Planet – A Tale of Frogs, a film shot over nine years in the Western Ghats of southern India. The film offers an intimate look at the world of the region’s commonly found frogs — and reveals that even “common” species display remarkable, rarely seen behavior. Little Planet premiered in Bangalore in March 2025 to an audience of over 1,000 people and has since won over a dozen film festival awards.
What You’ll Learn In This Lesson
- Why frogs make powerful — if underappreciated — subjects for wildlife storytelling
- How a small, self-funded team overcame funding, weather, and field challenges over nine years
- The innovative filming techniques used to capture sensitive frog behavior without disturbing the animals
- How film and visual media can drive conservation awareness and inspire local communities
- Practical advice for aspiring wildlife filmmakers
Watch The Recording
Chapters
- 15:00 — Introduction to the Little Planet film
- 21:40 — Overcoming challenges to make the film
- 28:20 — Innovative filming techniques
- 40:50 — Achieving recognition and awards
- 42:30 — The “Rally for Frogs” initiative
- 1:22:10 — Advice for aspiring filmmakers
Key Takeaways
Suhas’s journey shows that conservation storytelling does not require perfect equipment or large budgets — it requires passion and perseverance. His team relied on personal savings and support from friends and family, developed specialized equipment, minimized their footprint in the field, and carefully controlled lighting to capture rare behaviors such as the color-changing display of the American bullfrog. His message to aspiring filmmakers: start now, and make the most of the resources you have.
His post-film “Rally for Frogs” initiative extends this mission by screening the film across the Western Ghats to inspire local communities to become ambassadors for frog conservation. Underlying all of it is a belief in coexistence — the idea that protecting even the smallest, most overlooked species is key to keeping our planet thriving.
About The Speaker
Suhas Premkumar is an independent filmmaker, photographer, and naturalist from the foothills of the Western Ghats, now based in Bangalore, Karnataka. He is the founder and a director of Myristica Ventures, named after the Western Ghats’ unique Myristica Swamps, producing films, educational workshops, camps, and training focused on nature and wildlife. As a Certified Naturalist with the Karnataka Forest Department, he has produced five documentaries for them and has worked on numerous wildlife films.
Explore Further
- Little Planet trailer: https://youtu.be/BRpXwud05Ls
- Film website: https://thelittleplanetfilm.com
- Suhas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suhas_premkumar/
Reflection
Think of an overlooked species in your own region — how might you help others see it differently?
