SS Rajamouli's RRR and Guneet Monga-Kartiki Gonsalves' The Elephant Whisperers won big at the 95th Academy Awards held on March 12 in Los Angeles. MM Keerevaani bagged an award for Naatu Naatu under the Best Original Song category whereas Guneet and Kartiki's Tamil-language film won the Best Documentary Short Film award. In an interview with a portal, the music composer opened up about his excitement about winning the award.
During the interview, he revealed Guneet, who wasn't allowed to give her speech on the stage, went breathless after the ceremony and had to be hospitalised. "The universe was listening to my prayers and it happened. Which left me in not great excitement. But it was exciting only, but not to an extent where you go breathless, like the other award winner–Guneet Monga. She was not given time to speak her words, so she went breathless and she was hospitalised also," Keeravaani revealed.
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On the day of the Oscars, Kartiki, who made a directorial debut with The Elephant Whisperers, came on the stage with Guneet to receive the award for the Best Documentary Short Film. While she was allowed to complete her speech, the producer was stopped abruptly. After Kartiki finished her speech in approximately 42 seconds, Guneet took the mike and had almost started talking. However, the Oscar music began playing in the background and forced her to forego the speech that she had prepared for her big moment.
In an interview post the Oscars, Guneet reacted to being snubbed on the stage. She told a leading daily in India, "There was a shock on my face. I just wanted to say it's India's first Oscar in Indian production, which is such a huge thing. My heart started racing as I couldn't have come so far and not be heard. Western media is pulling up The Academy that I did not get to speak. People are so offended that I did not get the chance to deliver my speech. There are videos and tweets online expressing disappointment that I couldn’t get to speak. This was India's moment taken away from me."
Guneet and Kartiki interacted with the media in Mumbai on March 23.
(Source: Galatta Plus)
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