Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness
| Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness | |
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| File:Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness Poster.jpg Film Poster | |
| Directed by | Sandesh Kadur |
| Produced by |
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| Written by | Sandesh Kadur |
| Narrated by | Susheela Raman |
| Music by |
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| Cinematography |
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| Edited by |
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Production company | Felis Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 75 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | English, Tamil |
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Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness is a nature documentary film directed by Sandesh Kadur and executive produced by Rohini Nilekani. It is produced by Felis Films and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies.
The film is a first of its kind documentary featuring India's first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - the Nilgiris - one of Asia's most intensively studied areas.[1]
Synopsis
The Nilgiris, India's first Biosphere Reserve, stand as a majestic cradle of sacred rivers, thunderous waterfalls, and deep gorges. This vast wilderness, home to the guardians of our climate, encompasses the largest network of protected areas in the country.
For over two and a half billion years, these mountains have been sculpted by the relentless forces of nature. Yet, in just a few centuries, human intervention has reshaped this pristine landscape - colonial plantations, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and the expanding town of Ooty have left their indelible marks. Still, amidst this transformed terrain, the Nilgiris remain a sanctuary where wild creatures thrive on the edge of human presence: herds of gaur roam through roam through towns, playful leopard cubs dart among tea bushes, and fierce pack of dholes nurture their young amid the unfolding chaos.
The film unfolds the story of this extraordinary meeting place where wildlife and humans collide, revealing a fragile balance that has preserved this enchanted realm for generations. This film weaves a story of hope, fragility, and interconnected futures. Can this magical yet imperfect wild endure for the future?[2][3]
Production
Rohini Nilekani’s deep connection with the Nilgiris began in 2004 during an exploratory visit to Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. This experience transformed her perception of the landscape and its flora, including species previously considered invasive, and led to a long-term commitment to conserving the Nilgiri Biosphere.[4]
Recognising the absence of a standalone film dedicated to capturing the Nilgiris' ecological and cultural richness, Rohini Nilekani collaborated with filmmaker and National Geographic Society Explorer-Trustee, Sandesh Kadur to create Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness, the first documentary of its kind focused on this region.[5] Sandesh Kadur has long been associated with the Nilgiris through his acclaimed film Sahyadris - Mountains of the Monsoon (2002) and his book Sahyadris: India's Western Ghats, A Vanishing Heritage (2005), both of which helped raise awareness about the region’s unique biodiversity and contributed to the Nilgiris’ recognition as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.[6][7][8]
This partnership aimed to tell a compelling story that highlights the biosphere's biodiversity, the challenges posed by increasing human activity, and the efforts of local communities and state forest departments to protect this fragile ecosystem.[9]
Principal photography commenced in July 2022 across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.[10] Post-production took place between September and October 2024 at Films@59 in Bristol, UK. Sound design and mixing were completed at Wounded Buffalo, also located in Bristol.
Release
Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness was screened at the National Film Development Corporation Tagore Film Centre in Chennai on 4 November 2024[3] and at Swagath Shankarnag Chitramandira in Bangalore on 20 November 2024.[11]
The film has also been screened to more private audiences across India including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mysore, Coimbatore, as well as in schools and communities in the Nilgiris district, including Ooty and Coonoor.
The film was certified "U" by the Central Board of Film Certification.
Press
Rohini Nilekani in her article in The Hindu described the film as capturing “the resilience and adaptability of this unique landscape,” emphasizing the Nilgiris as “a shared wilderness, where humans and wildlife have coexisted for centuries”.[4]
Filmmaker Sandesh Kadur said the documentary is “as contextually powerful as it is visually appealing,” featuring “extreme details, macro shots, aerials” that immerse viewers in the natural world and reveal the many treasures of the Nilgiris. He expressed hope that the film “will stand the test of time, inspiring many generations about how awe-inspiring nature truly is” (The Hindu, 2024).[12]
Kadur also highlighted the importance of storytelling in science communication, stating, “I believe in hitting people on the head with visually powerful films that convey science through storytelling” (Hindustan Times, 2024).[11]
Nilgiris – A Shared Wilderness received widespread acclaim for its stunning visuals and evocative storytelling that highlight the unique biodiversity and cultural landscape of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.
The Hindu described the film as showcasing the Nilgiris as “a land of hope, fragility and interconnected futures,” with “stunning 4K visuals of wildlife and human habitats".[3]
The South First called the film a “Himalayan-scale documentary showcasing nature’s wonders and the urgent need for conservation in one of India’s richest biodiversity hotspots”.[13]
Homegrown noted that the Nilgiris Earth Festival featured the film as “a celebration of nature, culture, and community, emphasizing the deep connection between people and the landscape”.[14]
Accolades
| Award | Category(s) | Recipient(s) | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Film Festival in Cannes | Best Nature/Wildlife Film | Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness | Won |
| Best Indian Film | |||
| WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival | Feature - Documentary | Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness | Won |
| Festival de Cine Santiago Wild | Relatos de Naturaleza | Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness | Nominee |
| Ankara International Wildlife Documentary Film Festival | Feature Length Documentary | Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness | Official Selection |
| Nature Without Borders International Film Festival | Wildlife/Nature Documentary | Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness | Official Selection |
Robin Darius Conz received the 60th Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award from the Natural History Museum London, in the Urban Wildlife category for his striking image Tiger in Town, featuring a tiger on the hillside captured during the filming of Nilgiris – A Shared Wilderness.[15]
Crew
- Director and Writer - Sandesh Kadur
- Executive Producer - Rohini Nilekani
- Associate Producer - Adarsh NC
- Associate Producer - Rohan Mathias
- Creative Director - Vydehi Kadur
- Research Director - Priya Singh
Narration
- Susheela Raman
Cinematography
- Sandesh Kadur
- Robin Darius Conz
- Nakul Raj
- Sameer Jain
- Nikhil Virdi
Editing
- Pranav Narang
- Varan Manavazhi
- Robin Darius Conz
Additional Photography
- Parinith Gowda
- Adarsh Raju
- Rohan Mathias
Production
- Sriharsha HK
- Sreya Dutta
- Gaurav Rathee
- Piyush Rawat
Field Assistants
- Eric Nelson Bosco
- Sourav Gowda
- Ansh Gangey
- Smaran Bhat
- Rajkumar Raju
- Akash Rana
- Sanat Dahiya
Music
- Susheela Raman
- Sam Mills
- Neel Adhikari
- Nandini Sharma Anand
Sound Mix
- Wounded Buffalo
- Resound India
Visual Effects
Post-Production
- Films at 59
Felis Creations
- Kavya MS
- Rajeshwari Rao
- Nathan Fernandes
- Ananya Anand
- Nandish V
- Sumithvel Nirgun Kamble
References
- ↑ "HOME". NilgirisTheFilm. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ↑ Kadur, Sandesh (2024-11-04), Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness (Documentary), Susheela Raman, Felis Creations, retrieved 2025-04-30
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bureau, The Hindu (2024-11-04). "New documentary on Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve released". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Nilekani, Rohini (2024-11-01). "The Nilgiris as a shared wilderness". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ↑ "Visually powerful films needed to convey science through storytelling: Sandesh Kadur". The Times of India. 2024-11-16. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ↑ "Sandesh Kadur", Wikipedia, 2025-03-31, retrieved 2025-05-01
- ↑ Kadur, Sandesh; Bawa, Kamaljit S. (2005). Sahyadris, India's Western Ghats, a Vanishing Heritage. ATREE. ISBN 978-0-9770211-0-9. Search this book on
- ↑ "BBC: Natural World Mountains of the Monsoon 2008 ‹ Sandesh Kadur". Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ↑ Nilekani, Rohini (2024-11-01). "The Nilgiris as a shared wilderness". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ↑ Editor (2024-11-27). "Kumaraguru hosts the Premiere of 'Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness' - The Covai Mail". Retrieved 2025-05-03.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Visually powerful films needed to convey science through storytelling: Sandesh Kadur". Hindustan Times. 2024-11-16. Archived from the original on 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
- ↑ Sudevan, Praveen (2024-12-24). "Filmmaker Sandesh Kadur's new documentary unveils Nilgiris' unique biodiversity". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ↑ Kappan, Rasheed (2024-12-15). "Nilgiris, A Shared Wilderness: A Himalayan-scale documentary showcasing nature's wonders". The South First. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ↑ Bijolia, Disha (2024-12-18). "The Nilgiris Earth Festival: Attend A Celebration Of Nature, Culture, & Community". Homegrown. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ↑ "Tiger in Town | Wildlife Photographer of the Year | Natural History Museum". Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
- ↑ Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness (2024) - Full cast & crew - IMDb. Retrieved 2025-04-30 – via www.imdb.com.
External Links
- Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness | Website
- Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness on IMDb
- Felis Films | Website
- Rohini Nilekani Philantropies | Website
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