After winning an Oscar for their documentary short film The Elephant Whisperers, Indian filmmakers Guneet Monga and Kartiki Gonsalves met President Droupadi Murmu and Union Minister Anurag Thakur to discuss their work and the importance of conservation and living in harmony with nature. The filmmakers had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the previous day.
The Elephant Whisperers is the first Indian production to win an Oscar in the Best Documentary Short category. The film explores the relationship between elephants and their mahouts in the Indian state of Kerala, highlighting the important role these animals play in the cultural and ecological fabric of the region.
During their meeting with President Murmu, Monga and Gonsalves discussed the film’s message and how it promotes traditional Indian values of conservation and respect for nature. The President praised the filmmakers for their work, noting that it is essential to preserve these values for future generations.
Guneet Monga is no stranger to the Oscars, having previously won the award in 2019 for co-producing the documentary Period. End of Sentence. The film explores the stigma surrounding menstruation in rural India and the efforts of a group of women to combat it through the production of low-cost sanitary pads.
In a recent vlog, filmmaker Apurva Asrani addressed the common question of whether popular reality show Bigg Boss is scripted. Asrani noted that while the show has a basic script, the majority of the content is unscripted and the winner is determined by audience voting.
The meeting between Monga, Gonsalves, and President Murmu highlights the important role that Indian filmmakers play in promoting traditional values and addressing important social issues through their work. The success of The Elephant Whisperers serves as a reminder of the power of film to educate, inspire, and effect change.