‘Huliyappa’: A Powerful Debut Documentary Explores Faith And Coexistence In Karnataka’s Forests

BENGALURU, India — Huliyappa, an indie short Kannada-language documentary by first-time filmmaker Sourabha Rao, brings to light a centuries-old tradition of worshipping a tiger deity during Deepavali in the remote villages of Uttara Kannada district. The practice, believed to protect people and their livestock from tigers, leopards and bears, forms the heart of this compelling film. Shot entirely in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, Huliyappa captures the realities of human-wildlife interactions — from losses suffered by villagers and their cattle to the remarkable tolerance and compassion that endure despite these challenges. Through conversations with scholars, farmers and cowherds, the documentary presents a vivid retelling of rituals and beliefs that have sustained harmony between people and wildlife for generations. “Huliyappa is an outcome of the many years I have spent looking into human-wildlife interactions,” said Sourabha Rao, the film’s director and producer. “Uttara Kannada became my spiritual home when this story came to me. The more-than-human and the human world within it have become a singularly awe-inspiring entity in my mind and heart, while awakening me to the harsh realities of their interactions. I hope to do whatever little I can as a storyteller to highlight both the challenges our natural world faces and its immense beauty we often take for granted.” Huliyappa premiered in June at the Bangalore International Centre in Bengaluru and has since been showcased at international festivals. The film received the Gold Award for Best First-Time Female Director and the Silver Award for Best Documentary Short at the Los Angeles-based Independent Shorts Awards. It was also an Official Selection at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in Mexico. In addition to festivals, the documentary is being screened at schools, colleges, conservation organizations, research institutes, and cultural venues across Karnataka and beyond, reinforcing its message of coexistence and cultural continuity.