Director Kartiki Gonsalves scripted history as her documentary short film, 'The Elephant Whisperers', clinched the Oscar at the 95th Academy Awards. On March 12, she and producer Guneet Monga collected the trophy. Now, the Tamil Nadu government has felicitated the makers.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin honoured director Karitiki with a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 1 crore in Chennai on March 21. The pictures and videos of the same are doing rounds on the internet. She also received the Oscar Award from CM's hands. The Elephant Whisperers is a 40-minute-long documentary about elephant caretakers in Tamil Nadu.

CM Stalin met the short's main characters, Bomman and Bellie, and the young elephants, Raghu and Ammu, last week. The state government also announced a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh (per head) for 91 caretakers at the elephant camps from the CM relief fund. Apart from the cash prize, they announced new facility upgrades as well.

In addition, Rs 9.1 crores are set aside to build homes for mahouts. Rs 5 crores have been allotted for the development of an “Elephant Camp” in Anamalai Tiger Reserve. According to reports, an elephant camp with basic facilities (worth Rs 8 crores) would be built in Coimbatore Chavadi.