The Jengaburu Curse

The Jengaburu Curse is a seven-part thriller series that revolves around climate change and is set in a fictitious mountain city. Directed by Nila Madhab Panda, the series explores the theme of bauxite mining in the small mountain city of Jengaburu, where unexplained deaths occur, and corruption is rampant.

• Cast: Nassar, Makrand Deshpande, Faria Abdullah, Sudev Nair, Deipak Sampat, Melanie Gray
• Genre: Climate Fiction (Cli-Fi), Thriller
• Platform: SonyLIV

“We have never talked about climate as a character. That’s why climate fiction is a whole new genre, which we have put in a thriller space. The show is unique because we watch it from the tribal people’s perspective.” – Nila Madhab Panda, The Telegraph India

🌍 Climate Fiction: A New Perspective

The Jengaburu Curse is being hailed as the first climate fiction web series in India. It presents climate change as a character and explores the effects of illegal mining on the environment and human life. The series took three years to develop and involved extensive research.

• Location: Jengaburu, a small mountain city
• Theme: Climate change, mining, corruption
• Perspective: Tribal people’s viewpoint

“I have been affected by climate and its effects all my life. I come from a small village (in Odisha). We are affected by the rise in temperature and the sea level. I realize we need to tell a story, otherwise, it will be restricted to only books taught in school.” – Nila Madhab Panda, The Telegraph India

🎼 Music and Production

The background score by Alokananda Dasgupta adds a thrilling flavor to the show. The series was shot extensively for 80 to 90 days, and the casting was arranged by Mukesh Chhabra.

• Music: Alokananda Dasgupta
• Shooting Duration: 80 to 90 days
• Casting Director: Mukesh Chhabra

“Oh, Alokananda is incredible. It’s a blessing when people like her come on board with their soul. She wanted to work a month extra on the music even after her contract was over.” – Nila Madhab Panda, The Telegraph India

The Jengaburu Curse is a unique and thought-provoking series that brings attention to the pressing issue of climate change. By weaving a thrilling narrative around environmental themes, it invites viewers to reflect on the impact of human actions on the planet. It’s a must-watch for those interested in climate fiction and environmental storytelling.

• Director Nila Madhab Panda
• Cast Aarya Bhatta, Atul Sharma, Deipak Sampat, Faria Abdullah, Haroon Rafiq, Hitesh Dave, Makrand Deshpande, Manini Dey, Melanie Gray, Mike Kelson, Nassar, R. Badree, Rhea Resham Bari, Richard Bhakti Klein, Shrikant Verma, Sudev Nair, Sukumar Tudu, Swati Verma, Tushar Acharya, Vikram Pratap