Chennai, August 4 (PTI) – After her performance in the Oscar-winning documentary film ‘The Elephant Whispers’ alongside her husband Boman, indigenous woman Bellie has been appointed as Tamil Nadu’s first female Mahavat assistant “Kaivadi.” She will be stationed at the Theppakkadu Elephant Camp, operated by the state government, in the Nilgiri district.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presented the appointment letter to Bellie at the Secretariat, in the presence of senior officials and her husband Boman.
According to an official statement, the appointment was given in recognition of her dedication and exemplary services in nurturing and caring for abandoned elephant calves.
Prior to her appointment, Bellie was working as a temporary assistant (Kaivadi) involved in the care of elephants.
The Theppakkadu Elephant Camp in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve of Nilgiri district is one of the oldest elephant camps in Asia. Each elephant at the camp is taken care of by a Mahavat and assistant from the tribal community.
Bellie and Boman work as Mahavats in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in Nilgiri district, caring for elephant calves.
The Tamil language documentary ‘The Elephant Whispers’ won the Oscar award in the “Documentary Short Subject” category in March.
Directed by Kartiki Gonjalkar, the film portrays the inseparable bond between two orphaned elephant calves, Ragu and Ammu, and their caregivers Boman and Bellie. The documentary was produced by Sikhya Entertainment’s Guneet Monga and Achin Jain.
