- Monday, March 03, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
MK Stalin, the chief minister of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday (15) felicitated Bomman and Belli, the two elephant caretakers who featured in the Oscar-winning documentary “The Elephant Whisperers” at an event in Chennai, the state capital, and presented them cheques of Rs 1 lakh (£1,001) each, apart from a shield and shawl.
The duo, who take care of elephants at Mudumalai in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, met Stalin days after the documentary got the Academy Award in the US.
In a run-time of 39 minutes, “The Elephant Whisperers” depicts an unbreakable bond between two abandoned elephant calves Raghu and Amu and their caretakers, Bomman and Belli.
It is produced by Guneet Monga and Achin Jain of Sikhya Entertainment. Kartiki Gonsalves, who was born in Tamil Nadu, directed the documentary.
An official release said the documentary showcased the Tamil Nadu forest department’s functioning and the efforts towards elephant care.
The CM has announced Rs 1 lakh each to 91 people working in two elephant camps in Tamil Nadu — Mudumalai and Anaimalai, it added. He has also announced Rs 9.10 crore (£911.081) towards constructing houses for them.
The elephant camp located in the Anaimalai tiger reserve in Coimbatore district will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 5 crore (£500,594).
Later, speaking to reporters, Bomman said rearing of elephants was not easy and that they showed the same care to the calves like that being shown to children.
Gonsalves expressed joy over Stalin meeting the two elephant caretakers.
“Overjoyed and so proud to see Bomman & Bellie honoured by our honourable Chief Minister @mkstalin after ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ won the first academy award for India for an independent film at 95th Academy Awards,” she said in a tweet.
Later in a statement, Gonsalves said it was “incredible” to have an Indian indigenous documentary on the sacred bond between man and nature on Asian Elephants to be recognised around the world.
“I still remember when I showed them the final film in a private viewing in October of 2022. There is no greater feeling in the world than to present to Bomman and Bellie everything I have worked on over the last five years to bring their story to the world and to watch them smile and laugh and cry while watching it.
“That I must admit is the most beautiful feeling in the world. I didn’t just make a documentary on them, they are an integral part of my life along with Sanjana, Raghu and Ammu. It was also a very special moment when I took my parents to their house. We are all family,” the director said in the statement.
Monga said Bomman and Belli being felicitated by the Tamil Nadu government is another achievement for the film.
“… The impact the film has had and the love for the amazing duo of Bomman and Bellie is for me personally as a filmmaker the biggest achievement of all. The impact this news has had and that they’re being recognised, felicitated for their incredible story, their hard work makes me really emotional and happy…” added the producer.
(With PTI inputs)
