A couple of days after the Oscars, on Wedesday, March 15, 2023, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin felicitated Elephant Whisperers Bomman and Bellie following the Oscars win for the documentary The Elephant Whisperers in Chennai.
Stalin presented each of them cheques of Rs 100,000, besides a shield and shawl to honour them.
He also announced Rs 100,000 each to the 91 persons working in the two elephant camps in Tamil Nadu -- Mudumalai and Anaimalai and reserved Rs 91 million towards constructing houses for them.
IMAGE: Stalin greets Bomman and Bellie. Photograph: ANI Photo
IMAGE: Stalin felicitates the couple, stars of Karthiki Gonsalves's Oscar-winning documentary, here and below. Photograph: ANI Photo
Photograph: ANI Photo
Photograph: ANI Photo
IMAGE: Stalin awards cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to Bomman and Bellie. Photograph: ANI Photo
IMAGE: The Elephant Whisperers speak to the media after meeting Stalin. Photograph: ANI Photo
IMAGE: The couple have devoted their lives to caring for orphaned baby elephants. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo
Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com
Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com