1978

Golden Lotus: Best Children’s Film: India 1982
Special Jury Award: VI Competetive Film Festival: The Child of our time - Mifed, , Milano, Italy

Safed Haathi participated in several prestigious, International Film Festivals held at Berlin, Moscow, Tashkent, Cannes, Adelaide, Sofia, Cairo, Gijon, etc. where it received high acclaim for its contemporary theme, preservation of flora and fauna and emphasis on qualities of chivalry, adventure and integrity of character in children.

Sibu lives with his uncle and aunty and his sister Rani. While his uncle is indifferent with him, his aunty is very cruel. Mynah, a talking bird, is his best friend.

One evening his aunty asks him to take a sari to her mother who lives in another village, which is a route through dense forests. When Sibu comes to the forest, it is already dark. Sibu falls asleep, Suddenly a terrible roar of a tiger wakes him up. The tiger is about to take a leap on poor Sibu when a huge White Elephant emerges trumpeting magnificently. The tiger is frightened and runs away. The huge White Elphant slowly approaches Sibu and they become firends.

Next morning Sibu safely reaches the other village and hands over the packet of cloth to the mother of his aunty. He gets some money in return. With that money he buys some bananas and after returning to the forest, feeds his friend, the White Elephant who being pleased gives him a gold coin.

Sibu returns home with the coin. Eventually the gold coin is found by his aunty and uncle. They become extra sweet to him and very cleverly trace out the White Elephant. Meanwhile a Maharaja comes to the village for hunting. He strikes his tent near the forest Sibu’s uncle and sunty tell Maharaja about the existence of the White Elephant. Maharaja promises them reward if they can show him the White Elephant.

Maharaja swears to capture the White Elephant. Maharaja learns about Sibu’s friendship with the White Elephant from Sibu’s uncle. He sets a trap.

Next morning Maharaja takes Sibu to the forest along with his associates and a dozen elephants. He puts a gun on the poor boy’s head and shouts to the White Elephant that if he does not surrender . Sibu’s head will be blown into pieces. The White Elephant surrenders. Sibu becomes desperate. He comes to the forest. He asks Mynah bird to call all the animals and to declare a war against the Maharaja. Elephants, tigers cobras and other animals unitedly attack Maharaja’s tents. They do not kill anybody but overpower Maharaja and his associartes. Sibu releases the White Elephant. And once again the White Elephant goes back to the foest being free with Sibu followed by all other animals.