New video captures students' incredible Indian experiences

When Mike Mayes came to De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) he’d barely held a camera – now he has just returned from filming a documentary in India.


Mike flew out with volunteer students from DMU’s Square Mile India project, which shares the skills of staff and students to support communities in India.

Launched in February, it aims to give students the chance to put their degree skills into practice and DMU’s academics the opportunity to further their research.

Mike was there to film fellow students Sweta Patel, who is studying Education Studies with Psychology, and Biomedical Science student Onni Rani, as they experienced India and scoped out possible projects that students could get involved in.

He said: “India has to be the most vibrant place I’ve ever been. It’s busy, noisy, it’s just so much to take in – I have enough for two or three more films, probably.


“The first day we arrived, I left the hotel and headed out for a wander through the area we stayed in and just took my camera, taking reportage shots and one photograph formed part of an exhibition of my work in my final year project.”

Mike, who is incoming Vice President Media and Communications for De Montfort Students’ Union, spent a hectic few days in Ahmedabad, seeing the sights and recording interviews with Sweta and Onni.

His video was used for his final year project – one of three films he has made with DMU Square Mile to showcase its important work in communities around Leicester.



One of his other films was for the Rik Basra Leukaemia Campaign which last year set a record for Leicester as a lifesaving city by holding recruitment drives every day of September in businesses and organisations across the city.

Mike said: “For me, the important thing is to continue to improve. I’m my own worst critic, I’ll always spot something I want to change. There’s never a point when I say ‘that’s finished.’


“Before I came to DMU I had barely held a camera and now I feel I’m at a point where I can go into the industry and be confident in dealing with clients.”

Already work is under way to offer free hearing tests at a hospital supported by DMU Alumni and member of the Board of Governors, Dr Vijay Patel while a charitable donation programme, the Square Mile India Fund, supports a children’s home in Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s largest city.

Audiology students will be offered the chance to visit and work in the hospital and the local community, which treats thousands of people a year.  

Square Mile India is planning trips for students from all faculties.