Sangita Iyer

Sangita Iyer is the author of the award-winning book, and Amazon Bestseller, Gods in Shackles - What Elephants Can Teach Us About Empathy, Resilience and Freedom. She's a National Geographic Explorer, multiple award-winning nature & wildlife filmmaker, broadcast journalist, and a biologist.

Sangita's recently produced 26-part short docu-series Asian Elephants 101, world premiered on multiple Nat Geo channels. Thanks to a story-telling award by National Geographic Society. She's also the director and producer of the globally acclaimed epic documentary, "Gods in Shackles" that exposes the atrocities against "festival elephants" that are exploited for profit behind the veil of culture and religion. The film was nominated at the United Nations General Assembly, and has garnered 13 international film festival awards. Sangita was among the 33 women to receive the "Nari Shaki Puraskaar" in 2017. It is the highest award given to women making a difference in India from the country's President.

Sangita has produced a total of 47 films, including one feature film and three short docu series. But the highlight of her career has been with elephants whom she calls her soul animals.