Indian short documentary film ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ has scripted history by winning the Oscar award in the Best Documentary Short Film category.
Produced by Guneet Monga and helmed by Kartiki Gonsalves, the documentary was competing with Haulout, How Do You Measure a Year?, The Martha Mitchell Effect and Stranger at the Gate.
The Elephant Whisperers is the first Indian film to win an Oscar in this category.
In her acceptance speech director Kartiki 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,” Gonsalves said in her acceptance speech.”
Producer Guneet Monga also shared the news of the win on social media. “Tonight is historic as this is the first ever Oscar for an Indian production.
Former CM Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu reacted writing, “Hearty Congratulations to Kartiki Gonsalves & Team for creating history by winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film for #TheElephantWhisperers. You have made us all proud today!”
Hombale Films the production company behind films like Kantara, tweeted, “The whisper travelled the world. Congratulations to team #TheElephantWhisperers for winning the #Oscars! Your incredible work has shone a light on the beauty and importance of these magnificent creatures, and inspired us all to take action to protect them. Stellar achievement!”
The Elephant Whisperers was released on Netflix in December last year. The Elephant Whisperers tells the story of an Indigenous couples, Bomman and Belli, who are entrusted with an orphaned baby elephant, Raghu. It is set in the Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu.
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