The Elephant Whisperers Review: A heartwarming documentary on the endearing bond between an indigenous couple and two abandoned elephants

3.5/5

Story: Bomman and Bellie from the Mudumalai forest have devoted their lives to care for not one, but two abandoned baby elephants - Raghu and Ammu

Review: Imagine if every waking moment of your life was spent taking care of abandoned baby elephants. That's what Bomman and Bellie, a middle-aged indigenous couple residing in the Theppakadu Elephant Camp in the Mudumalai forest of Tamil Nadu have been doing for years now. For members of the Kattunayakan tribe, the forest is their temple and elephants, their god. Kartiki Gonsalves's latest documentary, The Elephant Whisperers beautifully captures their lives in the forest and how they dedicate themselves to take care of the pachyderms.

The documentary specially focuses on the abandoned elephant Raghu who got back on his feet after constant care and attention by the couple who worked tirelessly and nursed him back to health. When the baby elephant was first found by the forest department, he was severely malnourished, injured and bitten by stray dogs, so much so that many doubted if he would even make it. That's when Bomman stepped in to take care of him and spent almost every waking moment of his life taking care of the abandoned animal. Giving him apt company was Bellie, the only woman in the camp assigned on elephant duty. Together, the trio made a beautiful team and it was heartwarming to see the bond they share with each other.

Elephants are extremely intelligent and emotional, say the duo. The documentary delves into the couple's routine with the elephants and their relationship with the pachyderms. Bellie says that she suffered many losses in her life but her life changed after she began taking care of elephants. "Everyone now calls me the mother of elephants and that makes me proud, "she says. She is also extremely attached for her 'son', Raghu. "Everything about him is like a human, except that he cannot talk."

Bomman, on the other hand, calls Raghu a gift from god. "Whatever I am today, it's because of him and I want to give my best. When Bomman asks Raghu who is the best elephant, the way the elephant replies to the question, makes for an endearing watch. But what's a story without some competition? Enter baby elephant Ammu, who got left behind in the forest by her herd. The arrival of the new elephant upsets the equation for a while but soon Raghu and Ammu decide that they might just have to put up with each other.

The Elephant Whisperers is a beautiful tale of the lives of Bomman and Bellie and their 'children', Raghu and Ammu. The documentary not only revolves around their family, but also captures the beguiling beauty of the Western Ghats and its dense Shola forests in Mudumalai, the landscape with the largest continuous space for the Asian elephant. It also gives a peek into what goes inside the Theppakadu elephant camp, one of the oldest elephant camps in India that was established 140 years ago, where abandoned elephants are brought in and rehabilitated.

The documentary also talks how the Kattunayakan tribe, the proud forest dwellers, have utmost respect for the forest and never take more than what they need, unlike many of us who revel in consumerism. The pace of storytelling, cinematography, editing and the background score all complement each other. If only the makers had given a glimpse of how Raghu managed to get along with his new caretakers, this documentary would have been a complete winner all the way.

Nevertheless, even if you are not a huge fan of wildlife and animals, this 41-minute documentary might tug at your heart and bring a tear of two in the eyes.

Verdict: An absolute delight to watch!