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,”