Last month Prime Minister Narendra Modi met filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves and producer Guneet Monga, who won the Best Documentary Short Oscar for the docu The Elephant Whisperers. On Sunday, PM Modi met with the indigenous couple Bomman and Bellie on whom the documentary was made. Modi, who is currently in Tamil Nadu, travelled to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve to meet the duo, who took care of an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu and nurtured him to good health.
Kartiki Gonsalve, the director of the docu, took to Instagram to share pictures of PM Modi with the couple and Raghu. She wrote, “For the very first time in Indian History The Prime Minister of India Thiru @narendramodi comes to Theppakadu Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve which was established in 1927. Specially to meet our @theelephantwhisperers heroes Bomman & Bellie alongside Raghu & Ammu (Bommi). He alongside interacted with indigenous communities who are traditional elephant caregivers in the landscape which is the largest contiguous space for the wild Asian Elephants.”
Recently, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin honoured Karitki for showcasing to the world the efforts the forest department of the state has put in to save wildlife. Stalin also provided financial assistance to the 91 mahouts and cavadis, including a welfare scheme that will build houses for them.
At the 95th Academy Awards this year, The Elephant Whisperer made history by becoming the first Indian documentary film to win the Best Documentary Short Oscar. Along with the docu, SS Rajamouli film RRR’s “Naatu Naatu” also bagged an Oscar for Best Original Song. The track was composed by MM Keeravaani.