The Elephant Whisperers Couple Bomman, Bellie Send Rs 2 Crore Legal Notice To Kartiki Gonsalves, Allege Exploitation
Fingers are being pointed.
Netflix’s documentary The Elephant Whisperers garnered immense appreciation worldwide as it highlighted the importance of sustainable living and elephant conservation. The film is based on the real-life couple Bomman and Bellie who took care of an orphaned baby elephant and it also highlights their beautiful bond. Months after The Elephant Whisperers won an Oscar Award, the couple has now sent a legal notice to the film’s director, Kartiki Gonsalves, claiming that she is refusing to provide the financial help that she had promised.
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Bomman and Bellie’s legal notice
News agency PTI reported that The Elephant Whisperers couple, Bomman and Bellie, are seeking a ‘goodwill gesture’ of Rs 2 crore from Kartiki Gonsalves. In their legal notice, the couple states that Gonsalves got enormous financial benefits from PM Narendra Modi and even the Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin. They also went on to say that the documentary’s makers promised to give them a house, a vehicle and also financial assistance as a lump sum amount.
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The couple’s lawyer’s statement
Advocate Mohammed Mansoor, who is handling Bomman and Bellie’s case, said that they have received a reply from Sikhya Entertainment Pvt Ltd and he states that Kartii Gonsalves has ‘flatly refused’ to provide any more financial assistance to Bomman and Bellie. The statement also states Kartiki saying that she has already given the couple their share of the money.
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Social activist-lawyer Pravin Raj, who knows the couple for over a decade now, said that Kartiki is not even picking up their calls. He said that Kartiki Gonsalves had also promised financial help in educating Bellie’s granddaughter. And now, Gonsalves is not providing even a ‘fraction’ of the huge profits she earned with the success of The Elephant Whisperers.
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Also read: TN Govt Offers Rs 1 Crore Prize To ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ Director Kartiki Gonsalves, Guneet Monga Cheers!
Kartiki Gonsalves’ statement
Kartiki Gonsalves also issued a statement to PTI saying that the claims made by Bomman and Bellie are false and also that she has a deep respect for the couple for their contribution to the film. She added that the purpose of the film was to highlight the work done by mahouts like Bomman and Bellie.
First Published: August 07, 2023 12:05 PMPM Narendra Modi Meets Guneet Monga And Kartiki Gonsalves, Makers Of The Elephant Whisperers!
