Kudremukh - A place that most people will recognize as a mining center, from where iron ore was extracted. Today, however, this mining has been extracted from this biodiversity hotspot restoring the region to becoming one of India's most spectacular and biologically rich tropical rainforest landscapes.
This film documents the routine and hardships of the men responsible for conserving Kudremukh National Park. With meagre facilities and limited resources, these men are laden with the responsibility of conserving one of the most important wilderness zones, that provides water and resources to millions of people in the state of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Kudremukh National Park is more than 630.sq km area of montane grasslands and tropical rainforests which forms the largest protected block of its kind within the western ghats. There are many perils of season and wildlife for any human foot that may dare to step into this natural reserve. For the forest department staff, there is a call of duty to look beyond these concerns. Their effort to preserve and protect the ecology of Kudremukh requires a lot of hard work. From making and living in remotely located anti-poaching camps, patrolling through thick forest in rain or shine, day or night, the forest department has its work cut out.
Direction and Filming
Dilan Mandanna
Filming
Pradeep Hegde
Nikil Virdi
Bhargav Shandiya
Aerial Cinematographer
Dheeraj Aithal
Camera Trap Photography
P Francis
H N Dharshan
Additional Footage
Kalyan Varma
Prasenjeet Yadav
Script
Ananth Shankar
Editing and Design
George Thengummoottil
Narrator
Savanakumar Salem ( Sara)
Recording
Evanescence Studios
Concept and Coordination
Maria Christu Raja D (IFS) DCF
Special Thanks
Shri. Punati Sridhar, PCCF (HOFF) IFS
Shri. Jayaram, PCCF (Wildlife) IFS
Sanjay S Bijjur, IFS, CCF
Ganesh Bhat IFS, DCF
Bhaskar ACF
Produced By
Kudremukh Wildlife Division, Karkala
Karnataka Forest Department