Is it just me, or is the story of Konda Polam inspired by the Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book? While watching the movie I couldn’t help but draw similarities between the characters of the two stories. I could sense Mowgli in Ravi, Leela in Obu, Akela in the leader of the shepherds, Father Wolf in Guravappa, the wolf pack in the shepherds, and Sher Khan in the Tiger. There were similarities even in the setting and the storyline, like how the shepherds who lived their entire lives in the village and mountains feel very much at home, while Ravi who lived most of his life in the city does not have a sense of belonging even though they are his family, and this is his home. Even the way the Tiger singles out Ravi in the group, and how Ravi faces his fears and finally looks the Tiger in its eyes feels very much similar to what happens between Mowgli and Sher Khan. That being said, it does not really matter whether the makers of the film, or the novelist on whose book this movie is based on had The Jungle Book in their mind while penning this story or not, because on its own Konda Polam is still a brilliantly shot film that is a visual delight.
Set in a village near the Nallamala Forest, Konda Polam is about a group of shepherds who take their goats for grazing to the hills when their village is hit by a drought. Knowing that their animals will die if they do not get water soon, Guruvappa, along with the people of the village decide to take their cattle grazing to the forest on the hills, where there is plenty of water. Since it is not a journey that they can take everyday, the villagers will have to live in the forest with their cattle for several days, while family members supply them with food every week. Surviving in the jungle for so many days while protecting yourself and your cattle from thieves and wild animals is not easy. That is why the shepherds stay close to each other in a group, and take turns guarding their cattle. The movie is about how Ravi survives these 40 days in the jungle, and the many life lessons he learns in the process.
I love movies that gives me a glimpse into the lives I am unfamiliar with. As someone who is born and raised in the city, I have never heard of such a thing called Konda Polam (hillside grazing). While I know that shepherds and cowherds go to great lengths to feed their cattle, what I did not know is how elaborate and risky this process sometimes is. Too see the kind of life these shepherds live was a very humbling experience for me. Konda Polam is worth a watch not only for its heartwarming story but also its brilliant cinematography. The sweeping views of the Nallamala Forest are so breathtaking that I am seriously considering visiting the place when I go to India. As someone who was born and raised in India, I realized how little of the country I have explored. While we try to visit some of the famous historical sites every time we travel, I realized that when it comes to natural landmarks, beaches are the only places we have been to in the country. It really is a shame that for someone who loves hiking, how little of these forests I have explored so far, especially since I come from a state that has some of the most beautiful ghats and forests.
Definitely check out Konda Polam that is currently streaming on PrimeVideo. It is a beautiful movie that you can watch with your entire family.
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