Baaz: A Bird in Danger

Baaz: A Bird in Danger is a 2003 Indian thriller film centered around wildlife conservation. Directed by Tinnu Verma and produced by Nitin Manmohan, the film stars Jackie Shroff, Suniel Shetty, and Karisma Kapoor in lead roles, with Danny Denzongpa, Mukesh Rishi, and Aditi Gowitrikar playing supporting roles.

The movie revolves around the theme of wildlife conservation, particularly that of the endangered vultures, who are under the threat of being extinct due to the usage of diclofenac, a painkiller that is fatal to them. Jaggi (Jackie Shroff) is a wildlife photographer who lives deep in the forests of Central India. He is passionate and devoted to the welfare of the vultures and is trying to understand how these creatures are under threat. He seeks help from Dr. Singh (Danny Denzongpa), a scientist researching vultures and their extinction.

Meanwhile, a high-profile murder case takes place in Mumbai, shaking the nation. The case involves a powerful defense lawyer (Mukesh Rishi) and his alleged involvement in the murder of a young girl. A young journalist, Aditi (Karisma Kapoor), is trying to get to the bottom of the case but faces numerous hurdles as the politician has powerful allies.

Things take an unexpected turn when Jaggi's closest friend and environmental activist, Kedar (Suniel Shetty), is accused of murdering the defense lawyer. Kedar has been actively trying to build a case against the politician for his involvement in the vulture extinction case, and his arrest now appears to be a conspiracy to shut him down.

The plot thickens when Aditi discovers a possible connection between the murder of the defense lawyer and the vulture extinction. Dr. Singh has uncovered evidence that the painkiller, diclofenac, was being used to poison the vultures deliberately to clear the forest of animal carcasses. This discovery turns the case on its head and implicates the politician, who is involved in the production of the painkiller.

As the story progresses, Aditi and Jaggi team up to track down evidence to prove Kedar's innocence and shine a light on the conspiracy. They face formidable challenges posed by the politician and his allies as well as corrupt police officers.

The film's cinematography captures the beauty of Central India's forests, and the story is supported by a haunting musical score. The film's primary themes of conservation and wildlife protection are timely, and the film received accolades for its successful portrayal of environmental activism.

Baaz: A Bird in Danger is a gripping thriller that weaves a captivating narrative around the struggles of the conservationists to save the vultures and expose the corrupt system. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in environmental issues and wildlife conservation.