Shadows of Gods: An Archive and its Images by Gopinath Sricandane is a richly illustrated documentary work that explores one of the world's most important photographic archives of South Indian temple art—the archive jointly maintained by the Institut Français de Pondichéry (IFP) and the École française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO). The book traces the history, significance, and preservation of an extraordinary collection of over 135,000 photographs documenting temples, sculptures, murals, inscriptions, architecture, and religious heritage across South India.

Beyond celebrating the archive itself, the book reveals how these photographs became crucial evidence in recovering stolen Indian antiquities. It recounts the famous theft of Chola bronze idols, including the celebrated Nataraja from Sripuranthan and Suthamalli, and explains how archival photographs helped establish their provenance after they had been trafficked through international art smuggling networks linked to dealer Subhash Chandra Kapoor. Combining archival history, photography, cultural heritage, archaeology, and investigative storytelling, the book highlights the vital role of documentation in protecting India's artistic legacy.