Bomman and Bellie, the indigenous tribal couple who featured in the Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers, have come forward with a legal notice of allegations of financial exploitation against the makers of the docu-film.

  

Notably, the critically acclaimed documentary, which shed light on the couple’s unique bond with elephants and conservation efforts, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film in 2023.

 

Bomman and Bellie have claimed that the makers of The Elephant Whisperers failed to remunerate them after they spent a large sum during the filming process. They have also alleged that the makers have been irresponsive after the Oscar win.

 

In the legal notice, it is stated that the couple were promised a proper house and an all-terrain multi-purpose vehicle and sufficient financial support as a one-time lump sum payment as compensation for their time, based on the income generated from the project.

 

 

Production company Sikhya Entertainment and the documentary’s director, Kartiki Gonsalves, have since responded to the accusations. They released a statement that read, “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 had a real impact on the Mahouts and Cavadis community. Our honourable chief minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, has made donations towards assisting 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,” the statement added.