The Elephant Whisperers(2022)
Tamil40 mins
Bomman and Bellie, a couple in south India, devote their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu, forging a family like no other.
Director:Kartiki Gonsalves
Mood:
emotionalupliftinginspiring
Where to watch:
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Netflix
- Theatrical Release
- 7 December 2022
- Director
- Kartiki Gonsalves
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 40m
- Rating
- 7.8/10
Storyline
A couple in southern India takes in an orphaned baby elephant. They raise the young elephant as part of their own family, forming a deep and unique bond.
“A family formed by love, not blood.”
Film Details
7.8Rating
40Minutes
TamilLanguage
U/A 7+Certificate
Release Date7 December 2022
Also Known AsDie Elefantenflüsterer · Elefanthviskerne · Elefantviskarna · Заклинателі слонів · คนกล่อมช้าง · Como Cuidar de um Bebê Elefante · Шепнещите на слонове
Parental Guide
Violence
Mild
Language
Moderate
Sex / Nudity
Moderate
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
Mild
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Mood
emotionalupliftinginspiring
Themes
familylovesurvivalfriendship
Tonepoetic
Pacingslow-burn
Complexitylight
Audiencefamily
Best Withfamily
Violence1
Emotion5
Humor1
Rewatchability4
Cast & Crew
#1
B
BommanSelf
→#2
B
BellieSelf
→#3
K
Karan ThapliyalCrew
→#4
S
Sven FaulconerMusic
→#5
K
Kartiki GonsalvesDirector
→#6
G
Guneet MongaCrew
→#7
P
Priscilla GonsalvesCrew
→Trivia
- The film was shot over five years, capturing Raghu's growth from a baby to a young elephant.
- It is the first Indian production to win an Academy Award in the Documentary Short Film category.
- Director Kartiki Gonsalves had no prior filmmaking experience and learned on the job.
- The documentary was filmed entirely in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu.
- The film's success led to increased tourism and donations to the elephant camp featured.
- Bellie, one of the caretakers, is from the indigenous Kattunayakan tribe, known as honey hunters.
- The crew used natural light and minimal equipment to avoid disturbing the elephants.