Raghu, il piccolo elefante

About all the keyboard eco-warriors furiously pounding out their reviews in righteous indignation at the alleged mistreatment of these elephants. I can almost hear the blood of these armchair conservationists boil as they watch this documentary through their privileged first world lens. "I am a sponsor of an elephant trust", one declares, while another bleats, "I do not care about your (Tamil) cultural reasoning!", most likely from the safety and comfort of their modern abodes, and on devices like MacBooks that probably cost more than the annual salary of the caretakers in the documentary. In doing so, they expose their lack of any cultural sensitivity and indeed any true sense of sacrifice or worldliness.

Elephants are as revered as cows in India, because of a god, Lord Ganesha, who is part elephant. This does not mean that elephants are not used as a means of transportation like horses. It simply means that they are bestowed more respect than most animals. The elephants left behind or cast out of their tribe would very likely perish if not for human intervention. The impoverished caretakers find meaning and purpose in their lives through looking after these elephant cubs, just as the e-conservationists do so by aligning with values of animal welfare and ethical treatment without ever risking being eaten by a tiger or stabbed by an elephant. My only complaint is that the documentary was not nearly long enough.

Some stories are simple yet complex because they are storming with emotions. This is one of them and making a film that connects with the masses becomes a challenge. Elephant Whisperers conquers this challenge because of some great direction, exquisite story telling, super camera work and great music. Human animal relationships weaved in the wonderful landscape of Mudumalai with a strong message of elephant conservation in India to end with, this is a complete winner. One feels like personally going and meeting this ele couple and ofcourse Raghu and Ammu

Well done team and ofcourse it's a must watch.

Though it was on my watch list, it was prioritized to the #1 position after it got the Oscars, the first Indian-made documentary film to ever receive that award.

The cinematography capturing the forest & the lives of the elephant maintainers were just mindblowing.

The old couple whose lives were portrayed was so simple & shuttle, though it was very short, the emotional connection they have with the elephant gets us emoted as well

the communication & emotional connection these people have with the elephant was amazingly captured and presented.

The naughtiness of the elephants playing around did bring smiles to our faces.

Documentaries like these should probably be made as feature-length films for greater coverage of mass audiences, if you ask me.

Such an inspirational and beautiful story between the bond of an elephant and his two so very kind caretakers. The fantastic story, footage, and soundtrack together created such a magical and emotional film that will leave you smiling throughout except for one tiny part where you may become a little teary-eyed. It also beautifully sheds light into stunning tribal villages in India and how they co-exist with nature - something we need to starting doing as well!! Apart from showcasing a spectacular bond it also underscores the importance of elephant conservation and instills a deep sense of gratitude for the amazing people working towards making a difference. I seriously recommend watching it!

Incredibly moving documentary about a couple in Southern India who foster orphaned elephants. The film does a phenomenal job of providing environmental, societal, and historical context to a heartwarming story. The elephants are undoubtedly the stars of the film - their mischief, gentle nature, and unconditional affection display a human child-like character that only makes you smile. Where the viewer is truly lucky is that the couple is able to translate exactly what the elephant is thinking, doing, or feeling in a way that a parent can for a child. The best thing about this short documentary is that it has something for everyone. A must watch.