Down To Earth

From stunning sights to heartbreakingly poignant stories of loss and companionship, the world of nature and ecology documentaries has become one of cinema’s most notable genres. This June, we celebrate World Environment Day with a closer look at some phenomenal films

- Sharan Sanil

GANDHADA GUDI (2023)

Directed by Amoghavarsha JS 

Released posthumously on the birth anniversary of Puneeth Rajkumar, Gandhada Gudi takes the late Kannada film legend out of stardom and into the wilds of coastal Karnataka, along with National Award-winning filmmaker Amoghavarsha JS. Together, they embark on a journey across the length and breadth of the state, exploring its natural beauty and hidden wonders.

THE ELEPHANT WHISPERERS (2022)

Directed by Kartiki Gonsalves 

Recently lauded for winning the Best Documentary Short Film at the 2023 Oscars, this short film tells the story of an indigenous couple named Bomman and Bellie, their life in the Mudumalai National Park between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and of course, their touching relationship with the area’s elephants.

CHILIKA: JEWEL OF ODISHA  (2013)

Directed by Shekar Dattartri