From selling paneer on Delhi streets to winning Oscars, Guneet Monga's story
ET Online|
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The Elephant Whisperes bags Oscar
Tamil documentary "The Elephant Whisperers" emerged as the winner at the 95th Academy Awards making it a maiden victory for India in the Documentary Short Subject category. Directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, the 39-minute-long feature is produced by Guneet Monga and Achin Jain of Sikhya Entertainment.
AFP
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Second Oscar for Monga
This was the second time that Guneet Monga, a Punjabi girl hailing from a middle class family in Delhi, won an Oscar. Earlier, two entries set in India - "Smile Pinki" and "Period. End Of Sentence", won Oscars for Documentary Short. Monga was the executive producer on "Period".
PTI
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Cheese seller to Oscar winner
Monga's success has not come overnight. In fact, she had to do a lot to get into the industry and make a name for herself. Before graduating with a degree is mass communication, Monga says she worked plenty of odd jobs. "At 16 I started working while balancing schoolwork– I sold cheese on streets, was an announcer at PVR, a DJ, an anchor...you name it! In college, I began coming to Mumbai to work in films," she told Humans of Bombay in an interview.
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Fulfilling mom's dreams
In the interview, Monga shared how her mother specifically dreamed of a three-bedroom house with "3 steps by the entrance". Eventually, after working as a coordinator, to being a production manager, she pooled in the money to buy the house. However, both her parents passed away before they could see it, she shared. That's when she channelled all her energy into making films.
Reuters
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The Wasseypur connect
Monga moved to Mumbai in 2006, and subsequently in late 2009 she joined Anurag Kashyap Films. There, she worked on notable films including Gangs of Wasseypur I and II, The Lunchbox, That Girl in Yellow Boots and Trishna among others. However, there was only one thing she wanted. "In my happiest times- whether it was at the Oscars or when we produced Gangs of Wasseypur and The Lunchbox.. Or when I launched my production house… all I wanted was my parents beside me," she told HoB.
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The success of two women
Lauding The Elephant Whisperers director Kartiki Gonsalves, Monga said, "This is an incredibly powerful and historical moment. We, as two women from India, stood on that global stage making this historical win. I'm so proud of this film, this moment and proud of my amazing team at Sikhya Entertainment, that an independent production house from India has made the history to be the first ever Indian film by an Indian production to win an Oscar. My heart is racing with all the joy, love, excitement in the moment. I'm so grateful to Kartiki, the wonderful visionary that she is."