Published Mar 13, 2023 | 10:38 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 13, 2023 | 2:14 PM
A still from 'The Elephant Whisperers'. (Twitter)
Even before “Naatu Naatu” from RRR created history at the 95th Academy Academy Awards, bringing home the first-ever Oscar in the Music Category (Original Song), it was Elephant Whisperers which won the award for Best Documentary Short film.
Set in the Madumalai National Park at the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, the documentary directed by Kartiki Gonsalves showcases the bond between a couple (Bomman and Bellie) and an abandoned baby elephant.
It competed with four nominees in the category, including Haulout, The Martha Mitchell Effect, Stranger At The Gate, and How Do You Measure A Year?
The Elephant Whisperers is the second documentary short film from India that won the Academy Award in this category. Earlier, at the 91st Oscars, Period. End of Sentence produced by Guneet Monga bagged the award in the best documentary short film category.
Related: ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’ wins Oscar for best original song
This is the second Academy Award for Guneet Monga as a producer. Period. End of Sentence is based on menstruation set in rural India.
‘The Elephant Whisperers’ wins the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film. Congratulations! #Oscars #Oscars95 pic.twitter.com/WeiVWd3yM6
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 13, 2023
Tonight is historic as this is the first ever Oscar for an Indian production.
Thank you Mom Dad Guruji Shukrana 🙏🏾 To my Co-Producer Achin Jain, Team Sikhya, Netlflix, Aloke, Sarafina, WME Bash Sanjana. My lovely Husband Sunny.
Kartiki for bringing & weaving this story pic.twitter.com/BCOFFdC7Jg
— Guneet Monga (@guneetm) March 13, 2023
My heart is full of love and excitement, most of it imbibed from everyone in India cheering for our win.
So grateful to the visionary filmmaker @EarthSpectrum and to @netflix who gave us the biggest stage in the world. This is for my beautiful, diverse country, India. #Oscar pic.twitter.com/yq6bur69LH
— Guneet Monga (@guneetm) March 13, 2023
Meanwhile, wishes started pouring in after the 41-minute documentary directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, The Elephant Whisperers, won gthe Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.
Union Minister for Environment and Forest Bupender Yadav tweeted that “it’s a proud day for India and the documentary is a compelling ode to human-wildlife coexistence, a uniquely Indian way of living.”
Congratulations to the entire team of The Elephant Whisperers on winning the #Oscars .
The documentary is a compelling ode to human-wildlife coexistence, a uniquely Indian way of living.
Proud day for India 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/yqm2PCBx6c
— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) March 13, 2023
Chief Minister MK Stalin, on his Twitter handle, congratulated the team for winning the Academy award.
“No better news to wake up to than two women bringing the first-ever Oscar for an Indian Production,” he said.
Congrats to Kartiki Gonsalves & @guneetm on winning the #Oscar.
No better news to wake up to than two women bringing the first ever Oscar for an Indian Production.
The patient making & the moving story of #TheElephantWhisperers deserve all the praises & accolades it’s getting. https://t.co/73WyGgqy3T
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 13, 2023
Supriya Sahu, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department tweeted that it is a “proud moment for Tamil Nadu Forest Department.”
She also stated that the documentary tells the world about great strides being made in India and Tamil Nadu in elephant conservation.
What a fabulous news 💪India’s ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ wins #Oscars award for the Best Documentary Short Film. A proud moment for Tamil Nadu Forest Department Congratulations Kartiki @EarthSpectrum #TNForest #Oscars #Oscars95 #AcademyAwards2023 #Oscars2023 pic.twitter.com/dyHvV4fYcw
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) March 13, 2023
Former Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu in his tweet said that “They (Bomman and Bellie) have lived up to the saying “Preserve culture & protect nature for a better future.”
Congratulations to @guneetm & the team of #ElephantWhisperers for winning the prestigious Academy Award in the Documentary Short Film category. They have lived up to the saying “Preserve culture & protect nature for a better future.” #Oscars2023 pic.twitter.com/JxHJ7iJPtE
— M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) March 13, 2023
Congress leader Sashi Tharoor said that he is so thrilled that a film from India about elephants just won the short documentary, Oscar!
So thrilled that a film from India about elephants just won the short documentary Oscar! #ElephantWhisperers
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 13, 2023
