MUMBAI: India’s ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ has won the Oscar Award for Best Documentary Short Film at the 95th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. Directed by Aditya Arora, the film tells the story of a young mahout (elephant keeper) in India who develops a special bond with a female elephant. The film highlights the plight of elephants in India and the need to protect them from poaching and habitat loss.
This is India’s second win at the 2023 Oscars after ‘Naatu-Naatu’, a song from director SS Rajamouli’s film RRR, won the award for Best Original Song. MM Kiravani, the composer of the song, expressed his gratitude to the Academy Awards, saying that winning the Oscar was a dream come true for him.
Apart from these two wins, several other films and artists were recognized at the 2023 Oscars. ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ won the Best International Feature Film, while Ke Hui Kuan and Jamie Lee Curtis won the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress awards, respectively. ‘Navalni’ became the Best Documentary Feature Film, and ‘The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse’ won the award for Best Animated Short Film.
'The Elephant Whisperers' wins the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film. Congratulations! #Oscars #Oscars95 pic.twitter.com/WeiVWd3yM6
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 13, 2023
Other awards included Best Visual Effects for ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’, Best Make-up and Hairstyling for ‘The Whale’, and the Oscar Award for Best Sound for ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. Despite missing out on the Best Documentary Feature Film award, ‘All That Breathes’, a documentary made by director Shaunak Sen, was appreciated for its powerful storytelling and message.
The Indian film industry has come a long way in terms of recognition at international film festivals and awards. The wins for ‘The Elephant Whispers’ and ‘Naatu-Naatu’ at the 2023 Oscars are a testament to the talent and hard work of Indian filmmakers and artists.
Who all have won the Oscars 2023 so far?
Oscar Award Ceremony continues in Los Angeles. Take a look at the awards received so far:
• India’s The Elephant Whispers became the Best Documentary Short Film.
• ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ won the Best International Feature Film.
• Best Supporting Actor Award to Ke Hui Kuan.
• Best Supporting Actress Award for Jamie Lee Curtis.
• ‘Navalni’ became the Best Documentary Feature Film.
• Best Animated Short Film Award for ‘The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse’.
• Best Visual Effects Award for ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’.
• Best Make-up and Hairstyling Award for ‘The Whale’.
• Oscar Award for Best Sound Top Gun: Maverick.
