The Elephant Whisperers

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.

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!

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.

This documentary is about a Tamil couple who fosters orphaned elephants. Most baby elephants don't survive human care, especially if they are very young and require a lot of attention. This couple managed to raise baby elephants, whereas others have failed. Unfortunately, failure means death. Watching the bond between humans and elephants grow into genuine affection is heartwarming. It's not too much to call it love. Elephants have very good memories and develop emotional attachments to humans. It was a joy to watch. This film does a good job of humanizing elephants and humanizing a foreign culture to this sheltered "ugly" American. I thoroughly enjoyed 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.