At an event in the city to celebrate this historic win, Kartiki said, “I hope it paves the way for all people looking to start out with small stories. I used to be a sales girl at an apparel store and then I went into advertising and here I am holding the Oscar. So, everyone should keep aspiring.”
The director revealed her first reaction when they were announced winners at the 95th Academy awards. “I replayed it in my head a couple of times. Guneet Monga and I didn’t even waste our time hugging each other because the clock was ticking. It was the time when we had to speak to the world.”
Despite this Oscar win and all the attention that Kartiki is now getting, she doesn’t want to feature into massy movies or big feature films anytime soon. “I am a story teller and I want to use my stories for change. I want to stick to documentaries and tell stories of real heroes. I see myself as a documentary film maker going forward,” clearly states Kartiki.
But here’s what Kartiki is cherishing the most about this whole journey. She reveals, “I had this beautiful connection with the nature and wild life. The relationship has been there but this movie just added a whole different layer. But, I was blown away by the power of story telling, seeing how a story from a small place in South India can reach the world. That’s what will stay with me always.”
‘The Elephant Whisperers’ revolves around a couple (Bomman and Bellie) and their relationship with an orphaned baby elephant who becomes like their own child. It showcases this couple’s true love towards nature and elephants in the most heartwarming way.
