Oscars 2023: Real story behind ‘The Elephant whisperers’

On Monday, Kartiki Gonsalves' "The Elephant Whisperers" won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short at the 95th Academy Awards, highlighting the inseparable bond between an abandoned elephant and its two caretakers in India.

This emotional film, available on Netflix, aims to raise awareness about the connection between humans and animals while promoting elephant conservation.

The movie follows Bomman and Bellie, a couple from Mudumalai National Park, Tamil Nadu, who dedicate themselves to raising two orphaned elephants, Raghu and Ammu, creating an exceptional family bond.

Produced by Sikhya Entertainment, the documentary premiered on November 9th, 2022, at DOC NYC Film Festival, a renowned event for documentaries in the US, and was released worldwide on Netflix on December 8th, 2022.

Audiences and critics have praised the movie for its stunning cinematography, heartwarming plot, and compelling message of compassion and empathy in India.

Short Film Elephant Whisperers

After winning the award, Guneet Monga took to social media and penned, Tonight is historic as this is the first ever Oscar for an Indian production. India’s glory with 2 women."

She added, "Thank you Mom Dad Guruji Shukrana. To my Co-Producer Achin Jain, Team Sikhya, Netlflix, Aloke, Sarafina, WME Bash Sanjana. My lovely Husband Sunny. Happy 3 months anniversary baby! Kartiki for bringing & weaving this story. To all the women watching…. The future is audacious and the future is here. Let’s go! Jai hind."

Kartiki Gonsalves, a successful wildlife and social documentary photographer, photojournalist, and cinematographer, made her directorial debut with the movie 'The Elephant Whisperers'. Despite leaving her comfortable job, Gonsalves poured her heart and soul into this film.

The production of 'The Elephant Whisperers' was a five-year-long labor of love. Gonsalves and Guneet Monga, the producers of the movie, collaborated closely with the Kattunayakan groups, to which Bomman and Bellie belong. The film was shot in the breathtaking Mudumalai National Park, situated amidst the grandeur of the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu.

Real story behind ‘The Elephant whisperers’

"The Elephant Whisperers" is a documentary that portrays the heartwarming tale of an indigenous couple, Bomman and Belli, who take care of an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu in Mudumalai National Park, located in Tamil Nadu.

Despite facing several challenges, the couple goes to great lengths to nurse the injured infant back to health and ensure its survival.

As the story unfolds, a deep connection is forged between the couple and the elephant, highlighting the beauty of coexistence between animals and humans. Moreover, the film showcases the natural beauty of the park and explores the lifestyle and culture of the local tribal community, who have lived in harmony with nature for generations.

"The Elephant Whisperers" not only captures the emotional bond between an animal and humans, but also showcases the Indian tradition of environmental conservation, making it a heartwarming tribute to the power of nature and human compassion.

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