“This was my first documentary and I am here today,” stated the Ooty-born documentary filmmaker and photographer, including, “I hope it paves the way for a whole generation of people who are stepping out in the world to showcase the diversity that India has… (especially) the local documentarians who may not have big budgets.”

Gonsalves was talking on the first press convention in Mumbai on Thursday after The Elephant Whisperers’ massive win on the Academy Awards earlier this month. The occasion was additionally attended by the true heroes of the movie – Bomman and Bellie, a tribal couple who dwell on the periphery of Mudumalai National Park of Tamil Nadu. Hailing from the Kattunayakan tribe, the earliest recognized inhabitants of the Western Ghats who contemplate themselves protectors of the forest, they are often seen elevating orphaned child elephants Raghu and Ammu as their very own youngsters.

A nonetheless from Oscar-nominated documentary The Elephant Whisperers.

When requested how can we, as city residents, obtain this sort of concord with wildlife, Bomman stated, “My grandfather taught my father, he taught me and, I will teach the next generation. That’s all one needs to do. If you love animals, you must teach your children and they must teach theirs.”

The movie sees his spouse Bellie, who misplaced her first husband to a wild animal, being afraid of the forest. But she was entrusted with taking good care of Raghu and within the course of, not solely did she overcome her concern but in addition discovered motherly affection, filling the void that was created when she misplaced her daughter. “I want to thank Kartiki for calling me the mother of Raghu and Ammu,” she stated in Tamil, including, “I myself didn’t believe that I could be a mother to two thriving elephants and now I can’t get enough. Even though I am here, I feel my babies back home must be longing for their mother, and I want to go back to them.”