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11-08-2023
Bureau Report + Agencies
NEW DELHI: A much-praised Oscar-winning Indian documentary is at the centre of a row over allegations that its makers did not keep promises of financial help made to an indigenous couple who starred in it.
The Elephant Whisperers made history earlier this year when it became the first Indian documentary to win an Oscar. It tells the story of a couple named Bomman and Bellie who care for an orphaned and injured baby elephant inside the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu but last week, it emerged that a legal notice had been sent to the makers of the film in June, alleging that they reneged on promises made to the couple, including giving them “a proper house” and “sufficient financial support”.Bomman and Bellie confirmed this to BBC Tamil earlier this week.
The filmmakers have denied the allegations. In a statement to BBC Tamil earlier this week, the director and the producer said they had “deep respect” towards all contributors of the story.
The film’s director Kartiki Gonsalves added: “All the allegations made by Bomman-Bellie are false, there is no truth in their allegations.”
After the story made headlines this week, Bomman told a media outlet on 7 August that he wasn’t aware that a legal notice had been sent and did not know the lawyer behind it but on Thursday evening, Bomman confirmed to the BBC again that they had indeed sent a legal notice and it hadn’t been withdrawn.
AS Mohammed Manzoor, the lawyer representing the couple, also told the BBC that “the claims that we have taken back our legal notice are baseless and absolutely fake”.
Shot in the stunning vistas of the Nilgiri Mountains, The Elephant Whisperers follows Bomman and Bellie as they care for Raghu, an injured baby elephant who gets separated from his herd.
The couple belong to the Kattunayakan community, a tribal group that has been protecting the forest for generations.
The film was praised for highlighting their efforts at wildlife conservation as it featured moving scenes that showcased the bond forged between the animals and their human caretakers.
The film’s success at the Oscars had turned Bomman and Bellie into minor celebrities. They were felicitated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who presented them with a cheque of 100,000 rupees ($1,207; £949.4) each, along with a citation.
