Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, congratulated the makers of the Elephant Whisperers documentary for winning the Oscar Award under the Best Documentary Short category. 
 
Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, "Congratulations Kartiki Gonsalves, Guneet Monga and the entire team of The Elephant Whisperers for this honour. Their work wonderfully highlights the importance of sustainable development and living in harmony with nature." (sic)

Accepting the award, the director of the documentary, Kartiki Gonsalves, said, “I stand here to speak about for the sacred bond between us and natural world. For respect of the indigenous community and empathy towards other living beings and finally for co-existence. Thank you for the Academy for recognising our film, highlighting indigenous people, Bomman and Bellie for sharing their sacred tribal wisdom.”

The Elephant Whisperers is set in Theppakadu Elephant Camp of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in India’s Tamil Nadu and traces the lives of two elephant caretakers Bomman and Bellie, who belong to the tribe of the land. The heartwarming documentary shows the tender relationship between the caretakers and jumbos, Ammu and Raghu, who are taken under their wings. The film is produced by Guneet Monga.