Mumbai: National Geographic India is marking World Environment Day with the premiere of Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness, a feature-length wildlife documentary by National Geographic Fellow and award-winning filmmaker Sandesh Kadur. The documentary will air on June 5 at 12 PM and 9 PM on National Geographic.
Set entirely within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India’s first UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserve, the film offers an intimate look at one of the country’s most ecologically significant landscapes. Through years of immersive filmmaking, Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness explores the complex and enduring relationship between people, wildlife and the environment, highlighting a rare example of coexistence between human communities and nature.
The documentary journeys through the Nilgiris’ sprawling tea estates, ancient shola forests, railway lines, towns and wildlife corridors, capturing the ways in which animals and people share the same landscape. It showcases elusive species adapting to fragmented habitats while emphasizing the delicate balance that sustains one of India’s most remarkable ecosystems.
The film features an original score composed by Susheela Raman, Sam Mills and Neel Adhikari, complementing its narrative of coexistence, resilience and conservation.
Speaking about the project, Sandesh Kadur, National Geographic Fellow, and Film Director said, “I’ve spent years returning to the Nilgiris, often waiting for hours in silence to capture fleeting moments that reveal the true spirit of this landscape. What moved me most was witnessing the extraordinary coexistence between people and wildlife, from leopards navigating tea estates at dawn to gaur wandering through bustling towns as part of everyday life. Through Nilgiris, I wanted audiences to experience this shared wilderness in all its beauty, complexity and fragility. Bringing this story to life has been deeply special, and it feels especially meaningful to premiere it on National Geographic, a brand that has been such an important part of my journey as a storyteller over the years.”
The documentary has been executive produced by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and seeks to inspire broader conversations around conservation, sustainability and collective responsibility toward preserving natural ecosystems.
Rohini Nilekani, Executive Producer & Chairperson, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies said, “The Nilgiris have always been a place of wonder, a landscape where ancient forests, diverse wildlife, and thriving human communities exist in a delicate, remarkable balance. With Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness, we wanted to bring this magic to every Indian, on the biggest screen possible. We are truly honoured to have National Geographic India as part of this journey, whose legacy of bringing the natural world to life lends this film the reach and credibility it deserves. This is not just a documentary, it is a call to every one of us to pause, reflect, and take responsibility for the living, breathing wilderness that sustains us. If our society, government, and markets can come together with a shared purpose, there is still every reason to hope.”
Highlighting the significance of the documentary for the network, Alok Jain, Head – Hindi and English Entertainment Business (Streaming, TV & Studios), JioStar, said, “At National Geographic India, we have always believed in storytelling that brings audiences closer to the world around them with authenticity, depth and emotional resonance. Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness embodies that spirit by offering an intimate and deeply nuanced portrait of coexistence in one of India’s most extraordinary ecological landscapes. Rather than presenting wilderness as something distant or untouched, the film reflects the evolving relationship between people, wildlife and the spaces they share, encouraging audiences to see the natural world with greater curiosity, empathy and understanding. It is a powerful example of the kind of purposeful storytelling that lies at the heart of the National Geographic legacy.”
Over years of filming, Kadur has documented moments that blur the boundaries between the wild and the everyday, creating a cinematic portrayal of a landscape where coexistence remains a lived reality. The film has already received international recognition, winning the Best Sound Award at the 2025 Jackson Wild Media Awards, one of the most respected honours in nature and science filmmaking.
With its World Environment Day premiere, Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness aims to bring audiences closer to one of India’s most treasured ecosystems while fostering greater awareness of the need to protect and preserve shared natural spaces for future generations.
