GUNEET MONGA - A WINNER FOR THE INDEPENDENT SPIRIT

Before Guneet Monga's win for The Elephant Whisperers, no Indian production had ever won an Oscar. Her triumph represents a better future for independent filmmakers in India

- Parth Singh

When Guneet Monga walked up the Kodak Theatre at the 95th Academy Awards as the producer of the best documentary short film, The Elephant Whisperers, she kept her acceptance speech short, but it was a loud shout-out to independent filmmaking in India. Her win has heralded a new beginning for Indian cinema.

Monga, who is the founder of Sikhya Entertainment, has co-produced critically acclaimed films such as Gangs of Wasseypur, The Lunchbox and Masaan, becoming one of the most influential producers in the independent circuit. Her filmography does not fall into the mainstream category—she is an ardent supporter of what is called parallel cinema. But what elevates the significance of her win is the timing and the format.

Though some Indians before Monga had their fair share of global fame, no film produced by an Indian had ever won the Oscar. This is for a film industry which boasts production of maximum films in the world, even surpassing Hollywood. Experts attribute this to the poor exposure received by independent filmmakers in India. However, the tables seem to have turned in their favour following the rise of over-the-top (OTT) platforms.