‘Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness’—A Love Letter to India’s Oldest Biosphere Reserve

Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness, a full-length wildlife documentary honoring India’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, will open in theaters throughout India on July 18, 2025. Produced by Felis Films with funding from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, the film is distributed throughout the country by Dheeraj Films.

Directed by BAFTA-winning and Emmy-nominated director Sandesh Kadur, the movie captures the biodiversity, resilience, and interdependence of the wildlife and people of the Nilgiris — a veritable hotspot of ecological diversity in one of the most ecologically rich parts of the world.

Witness the hidden wonders of India’s Blue Mountains unfold before your eyes! 🐘🐆🦅 Are you ready to share their untamed wilderness?#NilgirisASharedWilderness releasing in cinemas on July 18th!
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.#SandeshKadur #WildlifeDocumentary #IndianWildlife #BlueMountains #Nilgiris pic.twitter.com/ZhsnrilZ26

— P V R C i n e m a s (@_PVRCinemas) July 16, 2025

Award-Winning International Recognition

The film has already received international critical acclaim, with an impressive array of awards, including,

Best Nature/Wildlife Film and Best Indian Film at the Cannes World Film Festival
Best Documentary Feature at Ankara International Wildlife Film Festival
Platinum Award at WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival
Outstanding Excellence at the Nature Without Borders International Film Festival
Nature Stories (Feature Films) at Santiago Wild Film Festival

Director’s Vision: A New Type of Wilderness

Talking about his work, Sandesh Kadur noted, “This is the story of a new wilderness, a mostly human-made landscape, where wildlife continues to adapt and thrive. Where else in the world can you have black leopards, gaur, sloth bear etc. all living in a tea garden? Although it’s in a constant state of change, it also shows nature’s resilience and adaptability to survive the odds — if only we allow them the space to do so.”

A Call to Action for Conservation

Executive producer and philanthropist Rohini Nilekani highlighted the role of the film in environmental consciousness, “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.”

Where to Watch It

The film will have a release in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mysore, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Ooty, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Kochi, Trivandrum, and Delhi, among others.

In support of NEP 2020, Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness will additionally screen through special, discounted student screenings in key cities to encourage environmental education.

Rohini Nilekani added, “Watching a wildlife film like this in a theatre is rare — and powerful. Unlike small screens, the big screen brings every detail to life. With its high-resolution imagery and immersive sound, it feels as if you’re right inside the forest with the animals.”