Oscar Award Winning Indian Short Film In Controversy

The Elephant Whisperers, another film which made India proud after RRR on the Oscar stage. It won an Oscar for Best Documentary Short. The film depicted Bomman and Bellie's dedication in caring orphaned baby elephants at Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. 

After the film winning Oscar, the state and Union governments honored both the filmmakers and the couple with monetary rewards. The Tamil Nadu government announced a house for Bomman and Bellie and a reward of Rs 1 lakh each, while Director Kartiki received a significant sum of Rs 1 crore from the state government.

However, the couple accuse director and production company of financial exploitation and harassment. They alleged that director Kartiki Gonsalves didn't paid their remuneration and even did not repay the money they spent for a wedding scene in the film. They said they saved that money for their grand daughter's studies. But upon the word of Director Kartiki they lend their money for the film. But, they didn't get it till now. 

Furthermore, the couple expressed their disappointment with how they were allegedly treated after the film's success. Although their tribal identity played a significant role in the documentary's recognition, they were not allowed to touch or hold the Oscar statuette during their felicitation.