Bomman and Bellie, the mahout couple made famous by the Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers, have filed a legal notice asking filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves for a ‘goodwill gesture’ of 2 crores. The pair allegedly received promises of a decent home, an all-terrain multi-purpose vehicle, and adequate financial support in the form of a one-time lump sum payment (without specifying the amount) as compensation for their work. The notice stated all the financial benefits were enjoyed by the filmmaker from Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Prime Minister of India. Bomman while interacting with media told them he was suggested to not to talk with anyone about the case and was advised to meet a lawyer. Pravin Raj, a social activist in Chennai and lawyer by profession put the couple in touch with a law firm. Raj said, “the couple was not happy with Gonsalves, who promised them monetary help as well as help with the education of Bellie’s granddaughter.”
Advocate Mansoor who is handling the case said he received a reply notice from Sikhya Entertainment Pvt Ltd, on behalf of Gonsalves, four days ago.
