Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin felicitates Oscar-winner ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ director Kartiki Gonsalves

Earlier last week, the CM awarded ₹1 lakh each to Bomman and Bellie, the mahouts seen in the documentary; he also announced funding assistance for the construction of houses for all mahouts and cavadis at the Mudumalai and Anamalai elephant camps

March 21, 2023 02:03 pm | Updated March 22, 2023 12:58 pm IST

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin felicitates Kartiki Gonsalves, the director of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin felicitates Kartiki Gonsalves, the director of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ | Photo Credit: @CMOTamilnadu / Twitter

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin on Tuesday presented ₹1 crore to filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves, while felicitating her for Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers in Chennai. CM Stalin presented a shawl and memento to Kartiki.

Ms. Gonsalves, who shot the documentary over five years, said it was an honour to win the Oscars. “It’s for women, for conservation, and for the protection of wild species,” she added.

Forests Minister Dr. Mathivendan, Chief Secretary V.Irai Anbu, Additional Chief Secretary to Environment, Climate Change and Forests Supriya Sahu, Srinivas R. Reddy, Chief Wildlife Warden were present at the event.

Kartiki Gonsalves, the director of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, during a press conference in Chennai on March 21, 2023

Kartiki Gonsalves, the director of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, during a press conference in Chennai on March 21, 2023 | Photo Credit: RAGU R

Notably, the Chief Minister felicitated and awarded ₹1 lakh each to Bomman and Bellie on March 15, the mahouts seen in the documentary. Further, he had also announced the grant of ₹1 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund (CMPRF) to all 91 mahouts and cavadis working in the Thepakkadu elephant camp of MTR and Kozhikammuthi elephant camp of Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), for the construction of houses.

Producer Guneet Monga's The Elephant Whisperers, a documentary directed by Kartiki, paved the way for many to believe that India truly can take the centre stage globally. It won the Oscar in the 'Best Documentary Short Film' category against Haulout,  How Do You Measure a Year?,  The Martha Mitchell Effect and  Stranger at the Gate.

In her winning speech, Gonsalves said, "I stand here today to speak for the sacred bond between us and our natural world, for the respect of indigenous communities, and empathy towards other living beings we share space with and finally, for coexistence. Thank you to the Academy for recognising our film, and highlighting indigenous people and animals. To Netflix for believing in the power of this. To Bomman and Belli for sharing their sacred tribal wisdom. To Guneet, my producer. To my entire team and finally, to my mother, father and sister who are up there somewhere and you are the centre of my universe, to my motherland India."

ALSO READ:From ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ to ‘Navalny’: The role of streaming platforms in the future of documentaries

The film tells a heartwarming story of an indigenous couple who have been given an orphaned elephant, Raghu, to look after. The story follows the couple's journey as they relentlessly work to ensure six-month-old Raghu's recovery and survival.

The short documentary beautifully stitches the tale of how the couple falls in love with the majestic creature over the course of time. Set against the background of life in the wild spaces of South India, The Elephant Whisperers highlights the beauty of exotic wildlife, unforgettable wild spaces, the people and animals who share this space.

The documentary is produced by Guneet Monga and Achin Jain under the banner of Sikhya Entertainment.

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