- This event is over. However, time travel possible through our Audio & Video! See upcoming events
Nilgiris- A Shared Wilderness
India’s First UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Speaker
India | 2024 | English | 75 minutes
This is the story of India’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – the Nilgiris – one of Asia’s most intensively studied areas. A land of sacred peaks and secret creatures, lost in the mists of time, somewhere between folklore and magic. A land that has challenged conventional notions of wilderness and showcased nature’s remarkable ability to adapt and thrive in a new wilderness. This is the first feature-length documentary about this region that takes us on a journey of discovery and uncovers the many secrets that make this region so special.
This film was created as an educational project to foster awareness about the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve and its enduring relationship with both people and nature.
Speaking about the film, Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and the Executive Producer of the film said, “With this film – Nilgiris—A Shared Wilderness, we hope to awaken people to the incredible beauty and biodiversity of this ancient and unique biosphere – the largest protected forest area in the country, now undergoing rapid change driven by human activity. If we wish to continue to conserve it, samaaj, sarkaar and bazaar will have to work in unison to nurture this ecosystem. The documentary is a call to action for everyone who feels connected to these sacred landscapes.”
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmaker.
The film is presented by
ROHINI NILEKANI PHILANTHROPIES and FELIS FILMS
A film by
Sandesh Kadur
Cinematography
Nakul Raj
Robin Conz
Sameer Jain
Nikhil Virdi
Sandesh Kadur
Edited by
Varun Manavazhi
Pranav Narang
Robin Conz
Narrated by
Susheela Raman
Music by
Susheela Raman
Sam Mills
Neel Adhikari
Associate Producers
Adarsh N C
Rohan Mathias
Executive Producer
Rohini Nilekani
In collaboration with:
Speaker
Sandesh V. Kadur
Sandesh V. Kadur is a BAFTA Award-winning filmmaker, National Geographic Fellow & Explorer, and was recently named the second-ever Explorer Trustee of the National Geographic Society Board of Trustees. His groundbreaking documentaries have aired globally on networks like National Geographic, BBC, Netflix, Apple, Discovery Channel, and Animal Planet.
His notable projects include Our Planet (Netflix), Planet Earth II (BBC), and the National Geographic series Wild Cats of India and India’s Wild Leopards. He is the co-author of two books: Sahyadris: India’s Western Ghats—A Vanishing Heritage (2005) and Himalaya—Mountains of Life (2013).
Sandesh’s first documentary and book raised awareness about the biodiversity of the Western Ghats, contributing to the regions designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. His accolades include a 2017 Emmy nomination and a BAFTA for his work on Planet Earth II. He is the founder and director of Felis Creations and co-founder of Conservania.
