The Elephant Whisperers, the Indian documentary won big time at the Oscars by bagging the award under the category Best Documentary short. It is to be noted that this is the first win at the Academy for India at the ceremony.

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 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 heartening 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.