Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

India has arrived with a bang: Guneet Monga on Indian presence in Oscars shortlist

“We just got started and what a bang and what an incredible way to start with four films competing,â€� the Oscar-winning producer told PTI.

India has arrived with a bang: Guneet Monga on Indian presence in Oscars shortlist
With four films from India on the Oscars shortlist, producer Guneet Monga, who has backed short documentary "The Elephant Whisperers", says it is time for the country's cinema to shine globally.
The heartwarming documentary directed Kartiki Gonsalves, revolves around Bomman and Bellie, a tribal couple in south India, who devote their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu, forging a family like no other. The Netflix film is an Oscar contender for Best Documentary Short. It is among the four films from India to have made it to the shortlist and Monga says it feels like the country has "finally arrived".
Besides "The Elephant Whisperers", Saunak Sen's "All That Breathes" is in the shortlist for the Best Documentary, Pan Nalin's "The Last Show" is vying for a nomination in the International Film category while 'Naatu Naatu', the blockbuster song from SS Rajamouli's "RRR", hopes to bag a nomination in the Best Song segment.
“This year, it feels like it is the culmination of years of work. With ‘All That Breathes’, Pan Nalin’s ‘The Last Show’, 'Naatu Naatu' from ‘RRR’ and with us as ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, I feel India has just arrived.
"We just got started and what a bang and what an incredible way to start with four films competing,” the Oscar-winning producer told PTI.
All eyes are now on the nominations on January 24. The Oscars ceremony will be held on March 12, in LA.
Monga, who served as an executive producer on the Best Documentary Short Oscar-winner 2019 film "Period. End of Sentence", believes the recognition that Indian cinema is receiving now is the result of years of hard work.
“It (Oscar nominations) is (due to) the emergence of all these (OTT) platforms, it is bringing the whole country together and it is celebrating all of us as a one country.
“I am grateful we are shortlisted again with a debutant filmmaker. The credit should go to Kartiki (Gonsalves) for the hard work. We are praying to get nominated. Next step is to win, (we are) gunning for our own trophy.” Gonsalves, who spent around five years documenting the unique family, said she is nothing but thrilled as everything is "very new for me".
“The Elephant Whisperers” depicts an unbreakable bond between two abandoned elephants (Raghu and Ammu) and their caretakers (Bomman and Belli), who belong to Kattunayakan tribe. It is produced by Monga and Achin Jain of Sikhya Entertainment.
Through the 41-minute Netflix film, narrated by Bomman and Bellie, the idea was to demonstrate the co-existence of mankind and animals, in harmony, the director said.
“There are so many stories of animals being killed and species dying out and this is a positive story that highlights the beauty of man and animal working together." "And this is the way to move forward in future, with mutual respect and cooperation we can save the planet,” Gonsalves said.
An unexpected encounter with Raghu at the Theppakadu Elephant camp, at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in South India, inspired the director to capture the unadulterated moments between Bomman, who was a father, mother, and a friend to the injured calf.
She recalls how Bomman welcomed her after he realized she was excited to see the then three-month-old Raghu, while she was in a car.
Being a wildlife photographer, the director said, she has interacted with adult elephants but never with a calf.
“It takes a lot of time for one person to understand how elephants move around, how they go about their day, and when they do something, you need to understand what that means.
"I have been out in the wilderness and I have seen that animals are similar to humans in many ways. Elephants are so large it was interesting to see how vulnerable a calf can be. And that’s how it all began. I wanted to share this special bond,” Gonsalves said.
The director said their team was running behind the elephants and family to seize daily routine and special moments, but they were also cautious about respecting their space.

“Documentary is about going out there and observing, capturing what’s there and the story comes (together) on the edit table as you have 450 hours of footage. It all boils down to what is the strongest story,” she said.

(PTI)

More For You

Kendrick Lamar and SZA

Kendrick Lamar and SZA thrill Birmingham crowd with high-energy Grand National Tour show

Kendrick Lamar and SZA light up Birmingham with a dazzling Grand National Tour stop

Highlights:

  • Kendrick Lamar and SZA brought their record-breaking Grand National Tour to Birmingham’s Villa Park on Thursday night.
  • The three-hour set featured solo performances, visual spectacles, and crowd-favourite duets like All the Stars and Gloria.
  • Kendrick arrived on stage in his signature GNX, delivering fiery performances from To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN., and his latest album GNX.
  • SZA stunned with hits from CTRL and SOS, transforming the stage into a fantasy landscape with high-energy vocals and choreography.

Two of the biggest names in rap and R&B, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, brought their much-anticipated Grand National Tour to Birmingham’s Villa Park on Thursday night, turning the historic stadium into a special musical experience. The pair, who previously wowed the world during this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, performed a mix of solo tracks and duets across a three-hour set that left fans exhilarated.

The Grand National Tour, which has already broken records as the highest-grossing co-headline tour in history, continued its momentum in the UK. Following performances in Glasgow, Kendrick and SZA proved once again why they remain at the forefront of global music.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kapil Sharma

Kapil Sharma’s Canada cafe shot at days after opening

Instagram/ginnichatrath

Kapil Sharma’s Canadian café targeted in shooting, Khalistani terrorist cites mockery of Nihang Sikhs as motive

Highlights:

  • Shots were fired at Kap’s Café in Surrey, Canada, owned by comedian Kapil Sharma, just days after its opening.
  • Khalistani extremist Harjit Singh Laddi, linked to banned group BKI, claimed responsibility.
  • The motive cited was an old comedy segment from The Kapil Sharma Show that allegedly mocked Nihang Sikhs.
  • No injuries were reported; Canadian authorities are investigating the incident.

Comedian Kapil Sharma’s recently launched Kap’s Café in Surrey, British Columbia, was the target of a shooting in the early hours of 10 July. Though no one was harmed, the property sustained significant damage. A known Khalistani extremist, Harjit Singh Laddi, has claimed responsibility for the attack, citing perceived religious disrespect on The Kapil Sharma Show.

 Kap\u2019s Cafe in Surrey  Kap’s Cafe in Surrey was struck by gunfire late at night with staff still insideInstagram/thekapscafe_

Keep ReadingShow less
Charithra Chandran Wimbledon

Chandran wore lambskin shorts and a green cashmere sweater for her Wimbledon appearance

Instagram/charithra17/Twitter/charithra files

Charithra Chandran brings ‘Bridgerton’ elegance to Wimbledon in timeless Ralph Lauren look

Highlights:

  • Charithra Chandran attended Wimbledon as a Ralph Lauren ambassador, turning heads in a vintage-inspired ensemble.
  • Her look echoed Bridgerton character Edwina Sharma, with soft curls and a classic summer palette.
  • Fans online praised her poise and outfit, with many saying she outshone stars like Andrew Garfield.
  • The actress wore a green cashmere sweater, tailored lambskin shorts and white Nappa pumps.

Charithra Chandran’s Wimbledon appearance might have been behind Hollywood stars Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro, but her crisp summer ensemble made sure all eyes found her. Dressed head-to-toe in Ralph Lauren, the British-Indian actress brought understated elegance and old-school charm to Centre Court, and social media took notice.

 Charithra Chandran Wimbledon Charithra Chandran styled her hair in soft curls for the Ralph Lauren outfitInstagram/charithra17/

Keep ReadingShow less
Superman immigrant storyline

Poster of the upcoming Superman film releasing on July 11

Instagram/superman

‘Superman’ movie faces backlash over immigrant storyline in James Gunn reboot

Highlights:

 
     
  • James Gunn’s Superman reimagines the hero as a symbol of the immigrant experience.
  •  
  • Former Superman actor Dean Cain and conservative commentators criticise the film as "too woke."
  •  
  • Cain argues that Hollywood is rewriting classic characters to fit modern political agendas.
  •  
  • Gunn defends his interpretation, saying the story champions kindness and inclusion.
  •  
 

James Gunn’s highly anticipated Superman has already been caught in a political storm. The director’s depiction of the Man of Steel as a metaphor for the immigrant experience has drawn criticism from right-wing voices, who accuse Hollywood of turning the iconic superhero into a tool for political messaging.

 Superman 2025 New ‘Superman’ movie sparks backlash for portraying hero as immigrant symbol Instagram/superman/reald3d

Keep ReadingShow less
Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber returns with Swag album exploring marriage struggles and mental health

Getty Images

Justin Bieber returns with surprise album Swag inspired by fatherhood and faith

Highlights:

  • Justin Bieber surprise-released his seventh studio album, Swag, on Friday, 11 July.
  • The 21-track album explores themes of family, faith, and mental health.
  • Collaborations include Gunna, Sexyy Red, Cash Cobain, and Eddie Benjamin.
  • Album includes viral quote, “I’m standing on business,” from recent paparazzi incident.

Justin Bieber has stunned fans by releasing a surprise new album titled Swag, marking his return to music after four years. Released on Friday (11 July), the 21-track album signals a clear shift in tone for the pop star, who has drawn inspiration from his roles as a husband and father, as well as his spiritual beliefs.

The album comes shortly after a string of cryptic social media posts and fan speculation about Bieber’s mental health, triggered in part by a viral video of him confronting paparazzi on Father’s Day. The now-infamous line from the clip, “I’m standing on business,” has become a catchphrase among fans and is directly used in the track Butterflies.

Keep ReadingShow less