Oscars 2023: Indian film The Elephant Whisperers wins Best Documentary Short Film, fans say they are ‘super proud’

The award show started with host Jimmy Kimmel joking about last year’s slapping controversy involving Chris Rock and Will Smith.

The Elephant Whisperers won the Best Documentary Short Film at the Oscars

Oscars 2023 is officially underway, and India has just picked its first trophy for the night.

It is indeed a proud moment for India as filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves and producer Guneet Monga’s The Elephant Whisperers have won the Best Documentary Short Film at the 75th Academy Awards. The film is India’s first win at the Oscars this year, with RRR’s Naatu Naatu song being a strong contender in the Best Original Song category.

Taking to her official Instagram handle, Monga said, "Tonight is historic as this is the first ever Oscar for an Indian production. India’s Glory with 2 women. Thank you Mom Dad Guruji Shukrana 🙏🏾 To my Co-Producer Achin Jain, Team Sikhya, Netlflix, Aloke, Sarafina, WME Bash Sanjana. My lovely Husband Sunny. Happy 3 months anniversary baby! Kartiki for bringing & weaving this story. To all the women watching…. The future is audacious and the future is here. Let’s go! Jai hind."

The Academy has put out a tweet congratulating the winners, and Indian fans were quick to express how proud they are of India’s Oscar win. One wrote, “Congratulations! The nation is proud,” with another saying, “Feeling very proud to be an Indian.” A third person commented, saying, “India got one Oscar hopefully next in line is for natu natu (sic).”

The event kickstarted with Jimmy Kimmel included the infamous Chris Rock-slapping controversy in his opening monologue. Kimmel joked, “We want you to have fun, feel safe and, most importantly, we want me feel safe... So, we have strict policies in pace. If anyone in this theater commits an act of violence at any point during the show, you will be awarded the Oscar for best actor and permitted to give a 19-minute long speech. But seriously, the academy has a crisis team in place. If anything unpredictable or violent happens during the show, sit there and do absolutely nothing. Maybe even give the assailant a hug... And if any of you get mad at a joke and decide you want to get jiggy with it — it’s not going to be easy.”

Needless to say, the audience cracked up at these subtle jibes that the celebrated host took at Will Smith slapping Chris Rock during Oscars 2022.

Interestingly, this year, India has a lot to look forward to in terms of representation at the coveted award show. For one, SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus RRR’s popular song Naatu Naatu is nominated under the Best Original Song category, and our girl Deepika Padukone is one of the presenters at this year’s award ceremony alongside Dwayne Johnson.

The 95th Academy Awards is taking place at the legendary Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

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