S3|EP22 - Wild Narratives: The Journey of Trishala Ashok in Conservation Filmmaking

In this deeply enriching episode of the Think Wildlife Podcast, we delve into the transformative journey of Trishala Ashok—an award-winning jewelry designer turned conservation filmmaker and founder of True Story Media Productions LLP. Through an inspiring and heartfelt conversation, Trishala takes us on a voyage that beautifully bridges creativity and science, forging a path that is not just about capturing wildlife through the lens, but about safeguarding it through purpose-driven narratives. From the forests of Karnataka to the banks of the Girwa River and the unseen corridors of airport security, Trishala’s commitment to ecological filmmaking has established her as a pioneer in the realm of biodiversity conservation.

Her story begins in the world of shimmering gemstones and 3D-printed designs, but a fateful encounter with a tiger in Jim Corbett National Park changed everything. That single moment stirred something within—a deep calling that led her away from the glittering world of fashion to the raw, untamed wilderness of India’s biodiversity hotspots. What followed was a courageous decision to abandon a successful business in jewelry design, and leap into the unknown world of conservation without a roadmap—armed only with passion, empathy, and an unwavering desire to make a difference.

In this episode, Trishala opens up about her early experiences with wildlife rescue in Bangalore, where she worked with monkeys, black kites, lorises, and snakes. She shares riveting accounts of her collaborations with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and Karnataka Forest Department, tackling wildlife trade and urban wildlife rescues. These foundational years, filled with on-ground exposure and grassroots outreach, eventually gave rise to the storyteller in her—a voice determined to counter deep-rooted misconceptions about wildlife, particularly snakes, through the power of conservation filmmaking.

Trishala’s first film, DEFANG, born out of a need to debunk snake-related myths like the existence of the mythical "nagamani," marked her official entry into wildlife documentary filmmaking. Created in partnership with the Karnataka Forest Department and Kalinga Center for Rainforest Ecology, DEFANG not only garnered support from the highest forest authority but also signaled the beginning of her journey into biodiversity filmmaking. It’s not just the subject matter that makes this documentary unique—it’s the impact-driven storytelling that weaves science with empathy and curiosity with community action.

From there, Trishala’s work continued to evolve. One of her most notable contributions is a public service announcement featuring Gauri Shankar, a renowned herpetologist, and a young boy from a rural village. This short film reached thousands across Karnataka and successfully altered local perceptions about snakes—encouraging empathy, curiosity, and coexistence. In a moving anecdote, Trishala recalls returning to the village a year later to find local children guarding a burrow of snake eggs, a testament to the behavioral shift her work helped inspire. This moment solidified her belief that wildlife filmmaking can do more than just document nature—it can mobilize communities, change narratives, and ultimately protect species.

Trishala’s philosophy is rooted in the idea that storytelling should not end with the credits; instead, it should catalyze action. This belief inspired her to found True Story Media Productions LLP, a media platform focused not only on nature documentaries and sustainable filmmaking, but also on social change. At True Story, storytelling transcends screen time, extending into conservation outreach campaigns, policy change, and educational efforts. Whether working with schoolchildren or policy-makers, the mission remains the same: inspire action through compelling narratives grounded in truth.

One of True Story’s recent standout projects is Girwa ke Gharial, a short film blending fiction with conservation messaging to spotlight the critically endangered gharial in Uttar Pradesh. Featuring local children and forest officers as actors, the film connects audiences with the r