Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin congratulated and felicitated Bomman and Bellie, the caretakers who were featured in the documentary The Elephant Whisperers, which won the Best Documentary Short at the Oscars ceremony held recently.
The Elephant Whisperers is helmed by Kartiki Gonsalves and produced by Guneet Monga under Sikhya Entertainment. Set in the Theppaku Elephant Camp, it follows the lives of the two caretakers who take two calves Raghu and Ammukutty under their wings. Beyond talking about this, the documentary also throws light on the indigenous tribe and their lifestyle, destigmatising late and widow remarriage, and human-animal relationship.
Sharing the news on Twitter, Kartiki wrote, “Overjoyed and so proud to see Bomman & Bellie honoured by our honourable Chief Minister MK Stalin after The Elephant Whisperers won the first academy award for India for an independent film at 95th Academy Awards.”
Earlier reports were doing rounds that the elephant caretakers featured in it are yet to see the documentary. However, dismissing the claims, Kartiki said that the caretakers have seen the film and was in fact, among the firsts to watch it.
The Elephant Whisperers is available for streaming on Netflix.