Oscar-winning 'The Elephant Whispers' lands in a fresh controversy

The tribal couple, Bomman, and Belli, who played pivotal roles in the Oscar-winning documentary "The Elephant Whisperers," have come forward with serious allegations against the filmmakers. In a recent interview, the couple revealed that they have not received any remuneration and have been ignored by the documentary's creators since its historic Oscar win earlier this year.

Seeking justice for their contributions, Bomman and Belli have issued a legal notice to the filmmaker, demanding a "goodwill gesture" amounting to Rs 2 crore. The couple's accusations shed light on the challenges faced by those who play integral roles in documentary filmmaking.

According to Bomman and Belli, they were introduced as "the real heroes" to prominent individuals, celebrities, sports personalities, and political leaders, garnering significant publicity for the documentary. However, they allege that the filmmaker received all the financial benefits, including donations from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the Prime Minister of India, without adequately compensating them.

In a candid YouTube interview, the couple shared that they used a substantial portion of their savings to finance a wedding sequence that director Kartiki Gonsalves wanted to include in the film. They claim that Kartiki had assured them of reimbursement, but the promised money was never returned.

In response to the serious allegations, the production house Sikhya Entertainment and director Kartiki Gonsalves have released a statement denying the claims.

''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 impacted the Mahouts and Cavadis community. Our honourable chief minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, has donated to assist 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 a deep respect for all of the contributors of this story, and remain driven by the desire to create positive change," said the statement.