Win boost to future Indian documentaries

In 2022, Writing with Fire by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, which followed the story of Khabar Lahariya, a media organisation run entirely by Dalit women, became the first Indian documentary to be nominated in the Oscars.

Tribal couple Bomman and Bellie on whose life the documentary, The Elephant Whisperers, is based. (Photo: PTI)

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In 2017, photographer-turned-filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves was so moved by her encounter with a young elephant being raised in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve by two caretakers that she spent the next five years following this unusual family and recording their story. The resulting documentary, The Elephant Whisperers — her filmmaking debut — is a 41-minute meditation on the interspecies bonds that develop when people live close to wild animals and the seeds for ecological salvation that may lie in such relationships.

On Sunday, when the film made history by winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short, Gonsalves, in her acceptance speech said the win acknowledged “the sacred bond between us and our natural world, for the respect of indigenous communities and empathy towards other living beings (that) we share our space with and, finally for coexistence”.

In a statement issued after the win, Guneet Monga, the producer of the documentary said, “We, as two women from India, stood on that global stage, making this historical win… Today, I can say, the future for Indian cinema is audacious, the future is here and not to forget the future is truly female.”

The Oscar for The Elephant Whisperers comes on the heels of a growing international recognition for Indian documentaries, including at the Academy Awards.

In 2022, Writing with Fire by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, which followed the story of Khabar Lahariya, a media organisation run entirely by Dalit women, became the first Indian documentary to be nominated in the Oscars. This year, the same category — Best Documentary Feature — saw another Indian nomination, Shaunak Sen’s All That Breathes, which came with international laurels, including the Golden Eye award at Cannes and the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.

Congratulating The Elephant Whisperers team on its win Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Their work wonderfully highlights the importance of sustainable development and living in harmony with nature.”

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin too congratulated the winning team. “No better news to wake up to than two women bringing the first ever Oscar for an Indian production,” he tweeted.

Pooja Pillai

Pooja Pillai is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, working with the National Editorial and Opinion section. Her work frequently explores the intersection of society, culture and technology. Editorial Focus & Expertise Pooja’s writing spans several key domains, often blending analytical commentary with cultural critique. Art & Culture: She writes extensively on cinema, books, and the evolving landscape of arts and entertainment. Technology & Society: Her work examines the human impact of the gig economy, the rise of AI in creative fields, and the cultural shifts driven by digital platforms. Food & Lifestyle: She often uses food as a lens to explore history and politics, covering everything from the origins of pantry essentials to the impact of nutrition policy. Politics: She closely tracks political developments in South and West India and provides commentary on international political transitions, including the shifting landscape of American politics. Multimedia & Podcasting Pooja is a prominent voice in the Indian Express’s digital ecosystem. She is the host of 'DeshKaal with Yogendra Yadav', weekly video podcast where she facilitates deep-dive conversations on Indian democracy, social movements, and current political affairs. Notable Recent Works Cinema & Identity: “SRK@60: Why Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood's last, and only, superstar” – an analysis of stardom and the changing face of Indian identity Global Politics: Commentary on the Trump administration’s misguided “war on woke culture” via typography and analysis of the visual semiotics of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attire during successive visits to the White House. Art & AI: “An unequal music: AI is lowering barriers at the cost of music itself” – a critique of how technology is redefining artistic value. Professional Presence Pooja is active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she shares her latest columns and editorial insights. Her full archive and latest updates can be found on her Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More

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