When we first conceptualised My Sweet Paro (2024), it was meant to be a gentle tribute, an intimate and true story told through slow, unhurried frames. It is a documentary that follows a 74-year-old elephant named Suzy and her soft-hearted caregiver Baburam who fondly called her “Paro”. Baburam had stood beside his Paro every single day since she was rescued from a circus in 2015, where she had spent her life entertaining audiences through unnatural tricks and performances.

This labour of love, captured at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) in Mathura, has now begun travelling all across the world, captivating audiences in cities miles away from where Suzy’s lived.

Haven’t seen the film yet? Watch it HERE

Suzy was the very first elephant to be rescued after the launch of the Wildlife SOS’s Circus Elephant Campaign, an initiative that aimed to liberate all of India’s circus elephants. Ailing and partially blind, Suzy was given a second chance to lead a life at peace. The film documents the everyday moments of her life at the centre. No longer objectified as a spectacle, she was now receiving love, respect and humane care that rose from a strong foundation of trust. The film reflects how healing can be made possible through sensitive rehabilitation, and how former mahouts can become kinder keepers of elephants, thus playing a crucial role in wildlife conservation.

At its core, My Sweet Paro is about a quiet and cherished bond between Suzy and Baburam that grew strong over 9 years at ECCC. It is about the time that follows an elephant’s rescue from a traumatic life. Baburam was not just someone who fed her or guided her on walks, he was Suzy’s closest and dear friend. While he would express his warmth to Paro with gentle gestures, Paro would reciprocate in her own beautiful way. We were once again reminded through the film how love may not need words to express it.

The film’s essence lies in the hands of its makers who have superbly tied together Suzy’s story with Baburam’s heartfelt narrative. Director of My Sweet Paro Suryoday Singh Mann, who was also a cinematographer with his teammate Mradul Pathak, beautifully captured the moments shared between Suzy and Baburam, while editors of the film Kunal Malhotra, Dhrumil Patel, and Hemank Chakma shaped the story’s rhythm and tone with care, letting the visuals speak for the incredible emotional connection.

Suryoday Singh Mann is the Manager of Filmmaking & Audio Visual Production at Wildlife SOS, and brings together his thoughts on what went into making and directing the film:

“One of the biggest challenges while making My Sweet Paro was doing justice to Baburam’s character, his transformation, his deep connection with Suzy, and how she brought happiness into his life. The film not only portrays Suzy’s journey, but also the personal evolution of the man who cared for her. As filmmakers, balancing this intense emotional narrative with our daily responsibilities at Wildlife SOS made the process slower, but also more rewarding. Through this film, we came to understand Baburam on a much deeper level, his quiet affection, his commitment, and his resilience. His love for Suzy became an essential thread that shaped the direction of the film.”

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, said, “This film is a window into the soul of the largest land animal to walk the planet, the elephant. It poignantly captures how far kindness and compassion can go in healing a broken animal, and ultimately finding solace in friendship.”

Dana Wilson, Director of Marketing and Communications with Wildlife SOS, has been instrumental in the promotion of My Sweet Paro on its international journey. For him, the film is more than just a documentary, it’s part of a larger mission to connect with people across the globe who care deeply about animals and conservation.

“Wildlife SOS has a talented and accomplished team of photographers and videographers. They’re focused on bringing the stories of rescued wildlife into people’s homes, even if those people may live thousands of miles away and never visit India. Connecting with these people through visual media is extremely powerful and compels them to join us as we save India’s precious wildlife,” he explains.

Unfortunately, shortly after the film was released, we lost Suzy. Through My sweet Paro that has reached screening rooms of museums in Europe to independent film festivals in South Asia, Suzy continues to walk gently into the lives of people she has never met. As the leading character of her film, Suzy will forever signify the need for conservation for animals that are suffering from numerous threats.

Award Wins

Best Documentary Short – Hamburg Indie Film Festival, March 2025
The jury praised the film’s quiet power, calling it “an emotionally resonant tribute to compassion and care”

Best Editing – 13th Delhi Shorts International Film Festival-24, New Delhi, India
Recognised for its subtle pacing and sensitive construction, the film was applauded for “allowing emotion to emerge through silence and rhythm.”

Honourable Mentions

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, 2024
Highlighted as a “remarkably gentle portrayal of a human-animal bond”, stood out for its emotional clarity and storytelling.

15th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival-25, New Delhi NCR, India
Acknowledged for its “honest and unfiltered view into the lives of those who rescue and those who are rescued.”

Semi-Finalists in Official Selections

Denver Movie Awards, January 2025
Noted for its beautiful cinematography.

Kyoto Independent Film Festival, March 2025
Lauded for its visual intimacy and emotional resonance.

Rio de Janeiro World Film Festival, Fall 2024
Commended for “shining a light on compassion without overstatement.”

Munich Short Film Awards, November 2024
Described as “a thoughtful documentary that invites reflection.”

Stockholm Short Festival, 2025
Praised for its unique structure and emotional authenticity.

Dubai Independent Film Festival, December 2024
Selected for its message of quiet resilience and humanity.

Berlin Shorts Award, December 2024
Applauded for “finding meaning in simplicity.”

Chicago Filmmaker Awards, December 2024
Recognised for storytelling that “transcends language and geography.”