Explorer

The Elephant Whisperers' Bomman, Bellie Send Legal Notice To Director Kartiki Gonsalves Asking For Rs 2 Cr

Bomman and Bellie, the couple who featured in the Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, have issued a legal notice to filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves.

New Delhi: After alleging exploitation by the makers of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, Bomman and Bellie, the couple who featured in the documentary, have now issued a legal notice to filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves. The couple seeks a ‘goodwill gesture’ of Rs 2 crore from Kartiki.  In a recent interview, the duo alleged that the documentary makers did not give them remuneration and had been irresponsive after the Oscar win.  

According to PTI, In the legal notice, it is stated that the couple were promised a proper house and an all-terrain multi-purpose vehicle and sufficient financial support as a one-time lump sum payment (without mentioning the amount) as compensation for their time, based on the income generated from the project. 

The legal notice also said that, on the one hand, the couple were introduced as “the real heroes" to the elite, celebrities, sports persons, and political leaders, gaining wide publicity for them. But on the other hand, the filmmaker got all the financial benefits from the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and the Prime Minister of India, the notice stated. 

Chennai-based social activist Pravin Raj, a lawyer by profession, put them in touch with a law firm in Chennai when the couple approached him. 

“Both Bomman and Bellie are disappointed with Gonsalves, who had promised them monetary help as well as help with the education of Bellie’s granddaughter, while making the film. But she now refuses to give even a fraction of the enormous profits made by the film,” Raj was quoted as saying by PTI. 

“Instead, Gonsalves is not even picking up the phone when Bomman calls,” added Raj. 

Meanwhile, Sikhya Entertainment Pvt Ltd, the production house behind the documentary, issued a statement that stated: “The goal in creating ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ has always been to highlight elephant conservation, the tremendous efforts of the forest department and its mahouts Bomman and Bellie. Since its launch, the documentary has raised awareness of the cause and had a real impact on the mahouts and cavadis community. 

"Chief minister of Tamil Nadu M K Stalin has made donations towards assisting the 91 mahouts and cavadis who look after the state's elephants, constructing eco-friendly houses for the caretakers and developing an elephant camp in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. 

“The documentary has been celebrated by heads of state across India, and the Academy Award is a moment of national pride that has brought widespread recognition for the work of mahouts like Bomman and Bellie. 

“All claims made are untrue. We have deep respect for all of the contributors of this story, and remain driven by the desire to create positive change,”  

View More
Advertisement

IPL Auction 2025

Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Virat Kohli
₹21 CR
Josh Hazlewood
₹12.50 CR
Rajat Patidar
₹11 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Rishabh Pant
₹27 CR
Nicholas Pooran
₹21 CR
Ravi Bishnoi
₹11 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Jasprit Bumrah
₹18 CR
Suryakumar Yadav
₹16.35 CR
Hardik Pandya
₹16.35 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Heinrich Klaasen
₹23 CR
Pat Cummins
₹18 CR
Abhishek Sharma
₹14 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Ruturaj Gaikwad
₹18 CR
Ravindra Jadeja
₹18 CR
Matheesha Pathirana
₹13 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Shreyas Iyer
₹26.75 CR
Arshdeep Singh
₹18 CR
Yuzvendra Chahal
₹18 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Sanju Samson
₹18 CR
Yashaswi Jaiswal
₹18 CR
Riyan Parag
₹14 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Venkatesh Iyer
₹23.75 CR
Rinku Singh
₹13 CR
Varun Chakaravarthy
₹12 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Rashid Khan
₹18 CR
Shubman Gill
₹16.5 CR
Jos Buttler
₹15.75 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Axar Patel
₹16.5 CR
KL Rahul
₹14 CR
Kuldeep Yadav
₹13.25 CR
View all
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

Sambhal Violence: 3 Dead In Clashes Over Mosque Survey, Akhilesh Yadav Accuses BJP Of 'Orchestrating' Violence
Sambhal Violence: 3 Dead In Clashes Over Mosque Survey, Akhilesh Yadav Accuses BJP Of 'Orchestrating' Violence
Hemant Soren Stakes Claim To Form Next Jharkhand Government, Confirms Oath Ceremony Date
Hemant Soren Stakes Claim To Form Next Jharkhand Government, Confirms Oath Ceremony Date
IPL 2025 Mega Auction Live Updates: Pant, Iyer Headline The Event, SOLD For Rs. 27 Cr And Rs. 26.75 Cr Respectively
IPL 2025 Mega Auction Live Updates: Pant, Iyer Headline The Event, SOLD For Rs. 27 Cr And Rs. 26.75 Cr Respectively
Maharashtra Government Formation To Be Completed By This Date As BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP Eye CM Post
Maharashtra Government Formation To Be Completed By This Date As BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP Eye CM Post
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

From Hating Computers to Building a Software Empire, The Inspiring Journey of ESDS CEO Piyush SomaniGautam Adani Faces Another Blow as SEBI Launches Probe Against Adani Group | Paisa LiveBigg Boss 18: Did Salman Khan Bully Arfeen Khan? Hrithik Roshan's Mind Coach Breaks Silence!Tamannaah Bhatia Has Vijay Varma as Bonus? Jimmy Shergill's Army Exam & Avinash Good Looks! EXCLUSIVE Interview

Photo Gallery

Embed widget