"Hair India" takes outsourcing to a new level in this fascinating exposé of a lucrative Indian export: hair. Meet the donors, dealers and consumers who illustrate how vanity, globalization, and tradition all contribute to a booming market.

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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.

Producers: Carmen Gonzales and Raffaele Brunetti

About Doc-Debut

This film originally aired as part of Doc-Debut, a series on Link TV highlighting unique and groundbreaking international documentary films. Each week features the U.S. television premiere of a new foreign doc, offering American audiences unprecedented perspectives on world events and culture, as seen through the eyes of individuals across the globe. The series also provides a unique outlet for films by independent directors and producers to reach a much wider international audience.

DOC-DEBUT airs every Sunday at 8pm Pacific and every Saturday at 8pm Eastern.