With her documentary The Elephant Whisperers, director Kartiki Gonsalves made history at the 95th Academy Awards last week. The endeavor took home the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject. The Elephant Whisperers is a Tamil film about an orphaned elephant calf named Raghu who is cared for by an indigenous couple named Bomman and Bellie in the Mudumalai National Park. The film highlights their growing relationship as well as the surrounds’ stunning natural features and cultural significance. Kartiki Gonsalves has met with Bomman and Bellie now, a few days after receiving the Oscar. Even a gorgeous photo of the delighted couple posing with the statuette was posted by the filmmaker.
Sharing the heart-warming photo, Kartiki Gonsalves wrote: “It’s been a long four months since we’ve been apart and now I feel like I’m home…” Needless to say, the lovely image has won the internet over. Composer Vishal Dadlani said, “Easily my favourite Oscars picture ever.” Esha Gupta replied with heart emojis while Aahana Kumra said, “Oh my god.”
Meanwhile, in her winning speech, Kartiki Gonsalves said, “I stand here today to speak on the sacred bond between us and our natural world. For the respect of indigenous communities. For entity towards other living beings, we share our space with. And finally for coexistence. Thank you to the academy for recognizing our film highlighting indigenous people and animals. To Netflix for believing in the power of this film. To Guneet, my Producer and my entire team and finally, to my mother, father and sister who are up there somewhere, you’re the centre of my universe. To my motherland India.”
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