| Director: | Rajendra Singh Babu |
| Producer: | S. N. Parthanath R. F. Manik Chand C. H. Balaji Singh |
| Screenplay: | Rajendra Singh Babu |
| Starring: | Vishnuvardhan Bharathi Master Prasad Tagat Baby Indira Ambareesh |
| Music: | Satyam |
| Cinematography: | P. S. Prakash |
| Editing: | Bal G. Yadav |
| Studio: | Mahatma Productions |
| Distributor: | Varuna Pictures |
| Runtime: | 139 minutes |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Kannada |
Nagarahole is a 1977 Indian Kannada-language children's adventure film written by H. V. Subba Rao, with screenplay and direction by Rajendra Singh Babu, starring Vishnuvardhan, Bharathi and Ambareesh. The film was dubbed in Malayalam as Kaadu Njangalude Veedu,[1] in Tamil as Yaanai Engal Thozhan[2] and in Hindi as Bahadur Bachhe. Director Babu revealed that the base plotline was inspired by the books of Enid Blyton.[3]
A school trip to the Nagarhole National Park turns into a dangerous adventure for the children and the teachers are caught in a bind. The trip eventually proves lucky for the principal and she reunites with her lost husband.
Rajendra Singh Babu wanted to make a children's adventure film completely set in a forest being inspired by the books written by Enid Blyton. He approached celebrated Kannada writer H. V. Subba Rao who went for a recce to Nagarahole for 15 days. H. V. Subba Rao wrote the film's story and added a sub plot of Naxalites lurking around the forest. He also wrote the dialogues.[4]
The character of Ambareesh was based on a real life driver whom Babu met there. Babu revealed that the team struggled to shoot action and bravery scenes like a tiger carrying a little boy.[4] The film was set in Nagarahole and Muthodi forests. The climax was shot on the Sakleshpura Bridge with 13 tunnels (at 165 ft in height it was Asia's highest bridge) through which Sakleshpura and Subramanya railway line passes.[5] The film production started in 1974 and it was released in 1977 after finally finding takers.
Soundtrack was composed by Satyam.[6] The song "Ille Swarga Ille Naraka" sung by Ravi and filmed on Ambareesh became hugely popular. It was remixed in the 2011 film Paagal.[7]
The film was dubbed in Hindi and released in Mumbai and all over India and became popular among kids of that generation.
It won Karnataka State Film Awards for 'best child actor' 1976-1977 for Prasad Tagat, Bhanuprakash, Sathish and Baby Indira.