Sandesh Kadur on Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness: This is an educational documentary disguised as entertainment...|Exclusive 

Sandesh Kadur Exclusive Interview

Sandesh Kadur, an award-winning wildlife filmmaker, has traveled through some of the world's most isolated and stunning natural environments.

However, his most recent project, Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness, takes place closer to his home in the lush, historic landscapes of South India's Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Sandesh discusses the film's inspiration, the value of viewing nature on a large screen, and the worldwide influence of a tale based in India's wilderness in this exclusive interview with Moneycontrol.

This documentary, which has received praise from film festivals and classrooms alike, is a call to curiosity and conservation as much as it is a visual extravaganza.

Experts from the interview:

Question: You’ve filmed in some of the wildest places on Earth. What made you choose the Nilgiris for this documentary? 

Sandesh: Yes, I’ve traveled across India to some of the wildest places. But this space—right in my own backyard, has a surprising variety of amazing stories right under our nose. Not only that, it’s India’s very first biosphere reserve. The Nilgiris were one of the first places selected by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve, spanning Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, with the largest part in Tamil Nadu. It’s one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots and has some of the highest densities of elephants and tigers in the world in this landscape. And yet, despite all that, there wasn’t a single full-length documentary about it—so we knew we had to make one.

Question: The film is also being shown to students across India through special educational screenings. Why is it important for young people to experience this on the big screen?

Sandesh: I remember as a boy being taken to the movies and watching The Gods Must Be Crazy in the theatre, it was a deeply impactful film about our human connection to nature. We have stories like that right here. The landscape of the Nilgiris is epic—with peaks over 2000 meters—and that vastness can only be felt on the big screen. Watching it on a mobile phone or laptop just doesn’t do justice to it. We wanted the younger generation to experience the full impact, and that’s why we prioritized a theatrical release over OTT.

Question: Do you think there’s an educational value to this documentary as well?

Sandesh: Absolutely. This is an educational documentary disguised as entertainment. Throughout the film, people are constantly learning, but in a way that’s engaging and enjoyable—they won’t even realize it’s educational in the traditional sense. Entertainment is the capsule in which we deliver education.

Question: Wildlife documentaries rarely make it to Indian theaters. What does this theatrical release mean to you personally—and to Indian nature filmmaking?

Sandesh: It means the world to us. We worked incredibly hard, and to showcase that work on the big screen is the ultimate reward. Any artist wants their work displayed in the best way possible—not just visually, but also in terms of audio. Our sound team spent a lot of time capturing the natural sounds of birds, frogs, and landscapes. The documentary literally transports you into the Nilgiris, and the best way to deliver that experience is through cinema.

Question: How do you feel about being one of the first to bring this kind of wildlife film to Indian cinemas?

Sandesh: It’s very rare. Wildlife documentaries usually stay on television. I’ve worked with National Geographic, the BBC, and Netflix—but this is different. This film was independently produced, entirely funded in India by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. Rohini and I came up with the idea together. She’s passionate about the Nilgiris and wanted to make something educational. We wanted to make the best film possible—no compromises.

Question: Nilgiris has won multiple international awards—from Cannes to Austin. Did you expect this level of global recognition, and what do you hope international audiences take away from it?

Sandesh: It’s been overwhelming. Sometimes we’re just happy if we get nominated—but we’ve been winning! From Chile to Houston to Cannes and more. We’ve also been nominated at the Rotterdam Film Festival. These recognitions prove our film stands on par with international work by the BBC or Nat Geo. Different cultures, from South America to Europe, have embraced the film—and that shows it has transcended cultural boundaries. That’s very touching.

Question: If there’s one emotion or realization you want people to walk out of the theaters with after watching Nilgiris, what would it be?

Sandesh: Curiosity. I want people to leave feeling a sense of awe and wonder. I want them to feel like they’ve discovered something special—something worth conserving. That emotional connection is what matters most.