Poster of yet to be released documentary on Covid | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Kovid Mittal is an engineering graduate from Bangalore with a passion for mountaineering. And, not just any mountain, but Mount Everest. The 31-year-old says she’s been into fitness for over a decade and dived into endurance training before starting her journey to the Snowy Mountains.
Kovid has made two documentaries- black braid (2021) and At 23000 ft. The latter is set for a digital release in May 2023. “These are the first Indian documentaries on mountaineering,” says Kovid. “While the first film talks about the challenges of climbing 6,000 feet, the second one is about climbing 7,000 feet. The final film will be on Mount Everest.”
Kovid is an actor, model, producer and writer. He has written the screenplays for both of his documentaries, of which black braid Currently streams on Amazon Prime Video.
As an actor and model, Kovid has been a part of several stills and television commercials and ramp walks before starting his own production house, KM Media & Productions. “We made 17 short films and two documentaries on mountaineering under the banner.”
Kovid Mittal | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
at 23000 feet, was supported by the Government of Karnataka and screened at film festivals. According to Kovid, the purpose of making these documentaries is to help people learn about life in high altitude areas. “It also talks about the logistics of making the climb. The final leg of the series will cover the achievement of reaching 29,000 feet.
Kovid says his passion for acting and mountaineering began when he won the Bangalore Youth Competition while studying engineering. “It paved the way for modeling and acting. This boosted my confidence and I ventured into theatre. By the time I was done engineering, I had a fair share of work as a model. That’s when I started my production house and started making short films.
The preparation and challenges of mountaineering are intense, says Kovid. “Everyone talks about climbing Mount Everest and posts pictures on social media. Hardly anyone talks about what it actually takes to achieve this feat. Can an average person dream of climbing Everest? That’s when some investors approached me and asked if I would be a part of a trek that would talk about all these aspects. During the pandemic, we decided to make a documentary. They talk not only about the climb but also about the financial challenges. Travel and insurance alone cost close to ₹50 lakh! We decided to make a three-part documentary series that covers all these aspects.
Kovid says that movies serve as a ready reckoner for mountaineers as everything is touched upon from the emotional, physical, financial and endurance aspects. “The idea was to put India on the global map when it comes to films on mountaineering. We had to shoot in challenging environments, and work perfectly as the chances of retakes were slim.
Kovid says, there are many misconceptions about climbing Everest. “It is not all snowy nor does it feel like paradise out there. By the time you reach base camp, you are operating with half your energy because the temperature and oxygen levels are low. The budget for climbing is very high and the risk of facing death is high. Still, people try climbing because it teaches you not to give in to failures. You can live in your own company away from civilization and social media. learn to be comfortable with. If you can cope with all this, you have achieved a great deal.”
Talking about the environmental impact of all the activities, Kovid says, “We carry a huge polythene bag in which we carry all our waste back. The Government of Nepal instructs every climber to preserve the mountains.