The moment ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ and ‘All That breathes’ received Oscar nomination it started a debate over India’s ailing documentary scenario. And now, as Kartiki Gonsalves-directed ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film people have started asking will this win be a boost for the Indian Documentary scene.
Senior actor Kharaj Mukherjee is also happy to see an Indian documentary winning Oscar. “India always has had a rich history of documentaries, but it’s the will and passion of resilient independent filmmakers and only a few producers who fund projects despite knowing that they will lose money that has driven the documentary fraternity. I wish the attention and appreciation The Elephant Whisperers is now getting will perhaps change the scene for the greater good,” shares the actor who’s equally excited.
He further adds, “After this Oscar win and the worldwide appreciation let’s hope The Elephant Whisperers can make a difference in the way documentary films are usually produced, distributed, and appreciated in our country. Frankly speaking, documentaries need more time and energy and they desperately need more support from big production houses who think seriously.”
Kharaj also feels this would now open up more opportunities for the documentary filmmakers in India and more people would step up with their home-grown stories like The Elephant Whisperers. “Our country is culturally very rich and diverse, the geographic and social diversity can produce many more beautiful stories that we all want to hear and trust me the world is also waiting,” said the actor.
While ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ won the prestigious award, another Indian documentary on the dying black kites of Delhi, Shaunak Sen directed ‘All That Breathes’, could not win the top prize at the 95th Academy Awards as the Best Documentary Feature film award went to ‘Navalny’.