When we catch up Mujeeb Padikka, he is high in idukki hills scouting for his next reel. “This is to a large extent my weekend routine. I choose a place, stop at a local tea store, and forced a tea dealer to start small nuggets of local wisdom. Mujeeb, Techie from Kochi, is the best creator of content that shares reels on his instagram description @tripwithmp.
Shots of drones from Kumbolangi | Photo Credit: Mujeeb Padikka
In the stunning landscape of Kerala, we have long liked the country and Mujeeb belongs to the growing community of drones enthusiasts who lift our view of the sky and offer a wonderful perspective of the picturesque terrain of the state. From the fresh nostalgia Kollengode to the rhythmic dance of the snake boat on the stagnant waters of Alappuzha, the fog including Munnar’s tea plantations and everywhere between them, these creators again represent the well -known monuments in a way that we have not seen before. Their photographs and coils attract millions of views on social media, such as a viral reel of a cricket soil in the middle of a dense greenery in Varandarapally, Thrissur, Sreejith with (@notonmap). Each of these films is a love letter to Keral, which reaffirms the reputation of the state as tourism.
Mujeeb Padikka | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“Kerala is the dream of a pilot of drones due to the diversity of the landscape. We have beaches, stagnant waters, lagoons, islands, mountains … and the best part? Is it beautiful in every season,” Majeeb says.
Capture of a perfect shot often requires more than one visit. “It’s rare to get on one way. Many things have to stand up – wind, weather, sunlight, drone, bus …” explains Mujeeb and adds: “I don’t remember a reel that first hit one million views, but I remember my first winch
ARUN P Jose | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Just across the border of Kerala-Tamil Nadu, Arun P Jose, better known as Dronolphy to its almost 900K followers, is on the road and passes through the windmills of Nercoil, in search of another reel. “It is not just beauty, but also an uncomfortable rhythm of life, softness, silence that adds another magic to the coils. This kind of silent spell is rare,” says Arun, who is a bit of a legend in the pilot community of drones.
The cardamom grower from Kattappana, IDUKKI, ARUN was among the first to accept this trend in 2018. His coils introduced us to the now-iconic fogged ridges of Kolukumalai and Rani Pink Lily Malarikkal in Kottayam.
ARUN is also widely attributed as the first pilot of drones in Kerala to throw nostalgic music music music and add a film touch that has since become a genre defense. “The discovery of a photo of drones saved me from burning and burning like an alcoholic,” says Arun honestly. “It happened my new high! I didn’t touch my drops because I first started experimenting with a toy that I bought online.” Since then, ARUn has cooperated with leading global brands such as DJI, and continues to inspire thousands.
Catch up
While drone photography has been technically since the beginning of 2010, when the available, user -friendly models first hit the market, in the last few years this trend in Kerala has reached. The most serious fans rely on imported drones that require official registration and are not easily accessible in India. The lack of clear instructions for drone operations increases to uncertainty. Despite this, interest increased sharply.
Abu Joy Jacob | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“Last year, when I was at the Champakulam Moolam race, there were three pilots of the hobbyists. This year there were 14, including me,” says Young Abu Joy Jacob, a communication specialist and a growing name in the drone community.
Shot from the Himalayan paragraph in pathanamthitta | Photo Credit: Abu Joy Jacob
Abu uses its instagram handle @_letsflyy_ to show the often overlooked beauty pathanamthita, its home district.
“I live in the upper kuttanad, at the western end of the district, and my mother’s family comes from Seethathoda, in the east. As a child, I often traveled to and from Aranmula, Morning, Chittar and Maniyar, destinations that could not always put on my feet.”
DROGRAPHY LAHA ENROUTE SABARIMALA | Photo Credit: Abu Joy Jacob
The rise of short -form videos, such as Instagram reels and shorts on YouTube, created this huge demand for a visually stunning content of the size of the bite. At the same time, advances in drone technology have also facilitated filmmaking in film style with relatively small technical training. These Skybound narrators, paired with available editing tools, can now produce professional looking content from their phones or laptops.
Most of these serious fans use “normal” drones with built -in stabilization and maneuverability that require small training training (creating content is another skill!).
Nithin Prabhakar | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Then there is Nithin Prabhakar (@kidufpv), a professional photographer- “Drone Cinematograph” by Chengannur, one of the few FPV drones. It is a high -speed approach that places viewers right in the middle of the event. Think about approaching along Vembanad on a snake boat from the perspective of one of the rowers.
Or a spiral inside Maranekkin (a well of death), along with a motorcyclist, in an international hit Hanumankind, Big Dawgs, who, by the way, was filming Nithin himself! “This is a kind of visceral narrative that FPV allows,” says Nithin, who has worked in many films by Vijay Devarakond’s Liger to the latest Sumati Valava.
“FPVs are tailored to speed and batteries last only three minutes. You have to be fast, concentrated and fully present. There is no autopilot. It’s just you and the drone,” explains Nithin.
Whether they are FPV or normal drones, one thing remains constant, according to all these pilots. “Flying with a drone is like building a relationship. You will learn its jokes, limits, and how far you can push it. And in return gives you access to perspectives that you could never achieve yourself,” says Mujeeb.
