New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met Oscar winner producer Guneet Monga and director Kartiki Gonsalves. Their documentary 'The Elephant Whisperers', won Best Documentary Short Subject at the 95th Academy Awards.
PM Modi took to Twitter to post pictures with Guneet and Kartiki and wrote, “The cinematic brilliance and success of ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ has drawn global attention as well as acclaim. Today, I had the opportunity to meet the brilliant team associated with it. They have made India very proud.”
'The Elephant Whisperers' tells the story of an indigenous couple named Bomman and Bellie who are entrusted with an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu.
They take great pains to ensure that the fragile, injured infant survives and becomes a healthy tusker. Set in the Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu, the documentary also highlights the location's natural beauty. It explores the life of tribal people in harmony with nature.
While accepting her Oscar, Kartiki, who was accompanied by producer Guneet Monga, said: "I stand here to speak today about the sacred bond between us and the natural world for the respect of indigenous communities and empathy towards other living beings we share our space with and finally for coexistence. Thank you to the academy for recognising our film, highlighting indigenous people and animals. To my motherland India."
While director Kartiki Gonsalves gave her acceptance speech, producer Guneet was cut off from the stage with the music as she was about to deliver her speech.
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.”
Guneet has produced acclaimed films like 'The Lunchbox', 'Masaan', and 'Gangs of Wasseypur'.