The Elephant Whisperers Release date: Guneet Monga’s heartfelt documentary is out December 8 on Netflix

The Elephant Whisperers, an upcoming Netflix documentary short shot in India, has just been given a premiere date. Screened last week at the DOC NYC 2022 Film Festival in the US, the short film tells the heartwarming story of a South Indian couple who fall in love with Raghu, an orphaned baby elephant given into their care. The Tamil-language documentary releases on December 8 on Netflix and marks the directorial debut of Karthiki Gonsalves. Guneet Monga and Achin Jain, best known for The Lunchbox, are producing The Elephant Whisperers under the banner of Sikhya Entertainment.

Set in a rural South Indian village, The Elephant Whisperers follows an elderly couple, Boman and Belli, who dedicate their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu, helping him recover and survive. What begins as a simple one-time job soon changes their daily lives as the gentle yet majestic creature creates a family bond that involves them in all activities. The 41-minute documentary will be available on Netflix with English subtitles and will highlight the beauty of the exotic wildlife and people living in the area. As seen in the documentary start screen on the platform, caring for elephants is a generational family business, raising the question of whether the couple’s love for Raghu is an exceptional case – as he is an orphan.

“It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of making The Elephant Whisperers and to work with Kartiki Gonsalves. We at Sikhya Entertainment strive to create diverse stories and The Elephant Whisperers is one such short documentary,” producer Monga said in a prepared statement. “It is heart-warming and highlights the beautiful connection we share not only with nature but with other living creatures on this planet, along with the beauty of wildlife and wild spaces in South India. I am delighted that this story will be seen around the world through a service like Netflix.”

Another film from the international circuit, Ariyippu, starring Kunchacko Boban and Divya Prabha, was acquired by Netflix last month. Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, the Malayalam film is known as Declaration in English and follows a struggling couple with hopes of migrating outside the country. It premiered at the Swiss Locarno Film Festival and broke India’s 17-year drought in the international competition section.

The Elephant Whisperers is out December 8 on Netflix.