Producer Guneet Monga reacts to ‘The Elephant Whispers’ winning an Oscar

– Sulena Majumdar Arora

,’The Elephant Whispers’ not only inspired Bollywood and the OTT world by winning the Best Documentary Short Film award at the 95th Academy Awards, but also brought laurels to India across the world. The short film is the first Indian film to win an Oscar in this category and the third film to be nominated after ‘The House That Anand Built’ and ‘An Encounter with Faces’,which competed for Best Documentary Short Film in 1969 and 1979. . This short film The Elephant Whispers’ **is directed by Kartiki Gonsalves and produced by Guneet Monga who shared her happiness on social media saying that she is still basking in the achievement. Guneet said, “We have won the first ever Oscar for an Indian production. It is made by two women. I am still shivering with happiness . It is an incredibly powerful and historic moment.

As India’s two women power, we stand on this global platform with this historic victory.I am proud of this film, proud of this moment and my amazing team at ‘Sikhya Entertainment’ because it has created history by becoming the first Indian film produced by an independent production house in India to win an Oscar. My heart is filled with joy, love, and excitement in this moment. I am very grateful to Kartiki, she is truly an amazing visionary. Netflix gave us the biggest platform in the world, supported us and believed in us in every way. Today I can say, that the future of Indian cinema is bold, and now  the future is in front of us  at the same time let’s not forget that the future belongs to women power .”

Along with this, Guneet also poured out her heart in an Instagram post, “Tonight is historic as it is the first Oscar for an Indian production. Cheering for India with two women..Thank you Mom, Dad, Guruji, Shukrana to my co-producers Achin Jain, Team Sikhya, Netflix, Alok, Sarafeena, WME Bash Sanjana and to My dear husband Sunny. Happy three months wedding anniversary to both of us. Shukrana Kartiki, for weaving and making this story come true. This is for all the ladies out there….the future is daring and the future is here. Let’s go!” added Guneet.
”The Elephant Whispers’ is the story of an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu, taken care of, by an indigenous couple, Bomman and Bailey, set in the Mudumalai National Park. This documentary is highlighting the love bond that grows and develops between humans and elephants and, also the natural beauty around them. ‘The Elephant Whispers’ was released on Netflix in December 2022.

Guneet Monga happily poses with Jr NTR, after securing a historic win at the Oscars 2023 with her production, The Elephant Whispers, directed by Kartikeya Gonsalves, brought up two winners in one frame.

Guneet Monga poses for a picture with Jr NTR backstage at the 2023 Oscars ceremony where the duo won the world accolades while making India proud. The Elephant Whispers became the first Indian film by an Indian production house to win an Oscar and the other film RRE went on to win Best Original Song for RRE’s Naatu Naatu. It has become the first Indian song from an Indian film to win an Oscar award.

Guneet Monga poses for a picture with Jr NTR backstage at the 2023 Oscars ceremony where the duo won huge accolades making India proud. India’s ‘The Elephant Whispers’ became the first Indian film by an Indian production house to win an Oscar and film RRE’s Nattu Natu song won Best Original Song, becoming the first Indian song from an Indian film to win the award.