Shiv Kunal Verma

Born into an Army family (2 Rajput) in Dehradun in 1960, Shiv Kunal Verma is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker who has produced some of the most highly acclaimed films and books on various genres, ranging from wildlife to the armed forces, and also the spectacular Northeast Trilogy that not only documents the seven sisters but also the two brothers, namely Sikkim and the northern part of West Bengal.

His grandfather was a civil servant who belonged to Provisional Services and was a part of the Central Provinces & Berar cadre, while his father, Ashok Kalyan, retired as a Major General in the Indian Army. His mother, Usha Hoon, was a teacher. A graduate of Madras Christian College, Shiv Kunal did his schooling at St Joseph’s Academy and the Doon School, Dehradun.

He started his career opening trekking routes between Kashmir and the Zanskar and Ladakh regions. After a brief stint with India Today and the Associated Press, he went on to direct and film the Project Tiger television series for Sanctuary Films, after which he formed KaleidoIndia with Dipti Bhalla. In 1992, he shot and produced the highly acclaimed docu-drama, Salt of the Earth for the Indian Air Force. This was followed by a series of Naval and Army films, culminating with a film on the Kargil War.

In addition, he has also made films on the National Defence Academy (The Standard Bearers) and the Indian Military Academy (Making of a Warrior). In 2001/02, he made Aakash Yodha that, along with the NDA film, was premiered on the Discovery Channel as part of the 13-film Discover India series. During the same year, he also shot and produced a film on the aerobatic teams of both the Indian Air Force (Suryakirans) and the Royal Air Force (Red Arrows), becoming the first cameraman to fly with the stunt pilots.

His other works include films on the War College, Mhow, and the College of Defence Management, Hyderabad. The first-ever film on the Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) was also made by him. Having clocked hundreds of hours in fighters, transport aircraft, and helicopters, he is by far the most experienced aerial cameraman in the country today.

Following in his father’s footsteps, who authored Rivers of Silence, Blood on the Snow, and the Bridge on the River Meghna, Shiv Kunal’s first book, Ocean to Sky, India from the Air was published by Roli Books and was a collection of photographs taken from fighters, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters.

The Northeast Trilogy, published under the KaleidoIndia banner, was released in 2011 with launches held in various parts of the country. The Long Road to Siachen was published by Rupa & Co. in 2010. In 2013, the Army Chief, General VK Singh’s autobiography co-authored with Shiv Kunal Verma, Courage & Conviction, was published by Aleph, who then also published 1962: The War That Wasn’t and 1965: A Western Sunrise. All the books were hailed by critics as the most definitive works on their subjects, and the 1962 book was made a mandatory read for the prestigious Defence Services Staff College exam.

In 2018, Shiv Kunal also shot and released a book on Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, which was to be part of the Southern Trilogy. Since 2017, he has been passionate about taking military history to schools, working with a school in Dehradun and building a movement that has had a significant impact across the country. In 2022, BluOne Ink published Industani: Six Degrees of Separation, which is less of an autobiography and more of a look at contemporary Indian history through his eyes.

His latest offerings are Yodha-1 and Yodha-2, which are illustrated military histories of the subcontinent. He is currently working on a three-part series of large-format books on Arunachal to be sent to world leaders. An illustrated book on the Kargil War is expected to be launched in 2025, along with language versions of his books on 1962, 1965, and Siachen.

He lives in Bandrol, Kullu, with his four dogs and six cats, and also spends time with Sana Durrani and her son Hammad.

Shiv Kunal Verma’s articles on both J&K and the standoff with the PLA can be accessed through Sunday Guardian and Muckrack.