In The Elephant Whisperers’ Oscar success, Bengal got a chance to renew its bond with the Academy Awards thanks to Sanchari Das Mollick, who shared co-editing honours for the film. Mollick was present at the award ceremony with director Kartiki Gonsalves and producer Guneet Monga’s team, becoming the first Bengali to be at the Beverly Hills in person when her film bagged an Oscar.

Bengal’s earlier tryst with the famed statuette was when Satyajit Ray was conferred with the honorary Oscar in 1992. However, Ray had received the award at a Kolkata hospital owing to ill health and a video message from the auteur was played when theaward was announced by actor Audrey Hepburn.

Sanchari and Douglas Blush edited some 500 hours of footage of Indian couple Bomman and Bellie who devote their lives to caring for orphaned baby elephants Raghu and Ammu, the final outputbeing the 40-minute-long film.

Minutes after the announcement, Sanchari told TOI: “I am still in a state of super shock. The presence of so many greats, listening to their acceptance speeches and just feeling the electrifying atmosphere – everything is so beautiful. I don’t even have words to express myself,” she said. Not a sari, Sanchari chose to wear designer wear by Payal Khandwala, who is known for making western outfits with Indian cloth.

“All I can say is dare to dream big. Work every day for your dream and they do come true,” was the message from Mollick, an alumnus of Loreto House, Calcutta International School, St Xavier’s College and Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).