One endangered bird species. A stop-motion short film. Jaipur’s famed blue pottery. A whisky brand. At first glance, these elements might seem like mismatched pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
But there is a twist in the tale: Godawan is the Great Indian Bustard, listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and the bird is found in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat. It is also the name of a Rajasthan-based whisky brand that has been working towards its conservation since 2022. And, The Godawan is a stop-motion short film, made by Studio Eeksaurus, about the bird and the efforts to revive its numbers using the making of blue pottery as a narrative device.
The Studio Eeksaurus team behind the short film
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The stop-motion short film uses handcrafted blue pottery and original Rajasthani folk music to tell a uniquely appealing story that begins with a shot of two hands crafting pottery. The narrative follows the pottery-making process, and we see the bird’s story take shape—from an idyllic past when they roamed freely, to when they were hunted indiscriminately, and finally to the present, as their numbers increase.
Godawan Single Malt Whisky is a brand of Diageo India. They have been working with conservationists for the revival and conservation of the State bird of Rajasthan.
When the number of birds rose to 100, they launched Godawan 100 in 2023 and, two years later, Godawan 173 to commemorate the achievement.
The blue pottery used in the film
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Suresh Eriyat, of the multi-award-winning animation studio Studio Eeksaurus, likens creating it to building the Taj Mahal or a similar monument. The Godawan is no ordinary film. Not only for what it talks about but also for how it was made.
When Suresh takes us through the process, one comprehends the sheer magnitude of the work that went into it. For instance, 5200 pieces of blue pottery were used, and more than 100 people were involved. “It was a challenge and a huge task!”
He calls it a ‘happy surprise’, adding that he was impressed that companies like Godawan are working towards the conservation and restoration of local fauna and flora.
Once a strong contender for the National Bird of India, indiscriminate hunting led to declining numbers. At one point, the number of birds on the Indian subcontinent was down to double digits. In 2022, Godawan became a part of the conservation effort, investing in state-of-the-art equipment and facilities in Alwar, Rajasthan.
Suresh sees the short as more than promotional content to publicise their conservation work. “This could have been easily done as a documentary or as regular video content. But they chose to take this route, which was time-consuming as well because of the route we took.” It took close to a year, from conceptualisation to release.
Godawan 173 whisky is packaged in blue pottery-inspired bottles, which served as a starting point. Suresh liked the idea of using blue pottery as a narrative device because there are very few traditional practitioners of the craft left.
“There are not many craftsmen who practise it the way it should be. It is on its way to become a dying art form.” Telling the story of the Godawan using blue pottery, both native to Rajasthan, through a Rajasthani folk song “created a piece of art! Challenging as the process was, it was a fun ride. I don’t regret the effort that went into it.” Resul Pookutty is the sound designer, Harsukh Dayal is the lyricist, and Nishant Gupta is the lead singer.
Suresh hopes the film raises awareness of the bird’s fragile life and moves beyond the scope of a film. “If a folk artist sings the song about the godawan, why not? If the makers of blue pottery use the design and tell the story, why not?” He praises his creative team, which put in the effort for this film: “our young team is the backbone of this film.”
Proud as he is of the effort that went into the film, he says, “We may not make another film this way!” Studio Eeksaurus has won two Annecy Cristals, considered the Oscars of animated films; it is the only Indian studio to be honoured. In 2025, it won the jury award for Desi Oon, based on the life of native shepherds and indigenous sheep breeds.
Making a creatively demanding film made literally by many hands was important, Suresh adds. The Studio Eeksaurus team has shared the behind-the-scenes video on its YouTube channel. “It was important to show that AI was not used to make this video; that was intentional. Especially in a country like ours where we need to preserve traditional artistic forms.”
The Godawan has been made by 22Feet and McCann India with Studio Eeksaurus, and presented by Godawan Estuary Premium Water.
Published – November 03, 2026 04:10 pm IST
