New Delhi: Film producer Guneet Monga, who won an Oscar for the short documentary 'The Elephant Whisperers', returned to India on Friday. She received a warm welcome at the airport from her family and friends. After returning the producer shared that she is ‘disheartened’ for not being able to deliver her acceptance speech. While director Kartiki Gonsalves gave her acceptance speech and dedicated her award to her ‘motherland India’, producer Guneet was cut off from the stage with the music as she was about to deliver her speech.
In a conversation with the Bombay Times, Guneet said she is disheartened for being unable to deliver her speech. She also felt that this was India's moment taken away from her.
“I am extremely disheartened that my speech was cut off. There was a shock on my face. I just wanted to say it's India's first Oscar in Indian production, which is such a huge thing. My heart started racing as I couldn't have come so far and not be heard. Western media is pulling up The Academy that I did not get to speak. People are so offended that I did not get the chance to deliver my speech. There are videos and tweets online expressing disappointment that I couldn’t get to speak. This was India's moment taken away from me. But then, I thought it's okay, I'll come back here and I will make sure I'm heard. I have got multiple opportunities to share my thoughts and it’s heartening to receive all the love. So a little empathy can go a long way here,” she was quoted as saying by Bombay Times.
Following the win, Guneet delivered her speech in the press room. She said, “Tonight is historic! This is the first Oscar for any Indian production, and two women here won this. I just want to say to everyone watching, the future is audacious and the future is us and the future is here.”
While most people criticised the Academy Awards, there were a few who believed that it was not intentional and was probably due to LIVE programming.
Guneet has produced acclaimed films like 'The Lunchbox', 'Masaan', and 'Gangs of Wasseypur'.