Hair India takes outsourcing to a new level in this fascinating exposé of a lucrative Indian export: hair. The film introduces us to the donors, dealers and consumers, effortlessly illustrating how vanity, globalization, marketing and ancient ritual have all contributed to create a lucrative enterprise.

While planning his wedding to the goddess Padmavathi, Vishnu accumulated a large debt with Kubera, the gods’ treasurer, who decided that the loan could be paid off by the hundreds of generations to come. For centuries, devotees have donated money or jewellery, and many offer the only thing they own: every day 40,000 pilgrims donate their hair in a ritual of purification.

Until a few years ago the hair donated to temples was burned or used to stuff mattresses. Today this hair has become an extraordinary economic resource. Thousands of locks find their way to Italy, purchased by Mr. Gold, owner of ‘Great Lengths’, the world’s leading manufacturer of the extensions used to thicken and lengthen hair.

Considered the best on the world market, ‘Great Lengths’ hair extensions are exported not only to the USA and Europe, but also to the Arab countries, Australia, Russia, and many others including… India.

Festivals and Awards

Official Selection
Hot Docs 2009
IDFA 2008
DFA Film Festival, The Netherlands, 2008
Festival dei Popoli, Italy, 2008
The Back Lot International Film Festival, Suriname, 2008
Bakaforum, Switzerland, 2009
DOCNZ, New Zealand, 2009
ZagrebDox, Croatia, 2009
Belfast Film Festival, Northern Ireland, 2009
Beldocs, Serbia, 2009
Festival de Guadalajara, Mexico, 2009
Lemesos Int’l Documentary Festival, Cyprus, 2009