NHRC Felicitates Winners of 2025 Short Film Competition: A Celebration of Cinematic Advocacy

April 7, 2026 : The National Human Rights Commission held a prestigious award ceremony today at its New Delhi headquarters to honor the seven winners of the Short Film Competition 2025. This event celebrated the intersection of creative storytelling and social justice while highlighting the growing influence of cinema in the human rights discourse.

The ceremony was led by NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian, who praised the filmmakers for their ability to influence the subconscious mind through the audio-visual medium. He noted the competition’s impressive linguistic diversity, with entries spanning twenty-four Indian languages. Justice Ramasubramanian observed that the variety of films reflects the Commission’s national character and demonstrates an increasing public engagement with human rights issues since the competition’s inception in 2015.

Key NHRC officials, including Secretary General Shri Bharat Lal, noted a significant surge in participation. Entries jumped from 303 in 2024 to 526 in 2025, marking the competition’s evolution into a major national outreach initiative. The first prize of 2 lakh was awarded to Sarika Jain for her film Rani, which explores class divisions and the struggles of domestic workers. The second prize of 1.5 lakh went to Amal S. for Meanwhile She.., a Malayalam film addressing the domestic violence and gender stereotypes faced by working women. The third prize of 1 lakh was secured by Sai Shashank Tati for The Delivery, which highlights the insecurities of gig workers in Tamil Nadu.

Additional recognition was given to four films receiving Special Mentions and 50,000 each. These included Malati by Falguni Bhakta, Second Chance by Ravi Karnwal, Dusk of Life by Damodar D. Pawar, and Bhagyashree by Manoj Appaso Janwekar. These works addressed critical themes ranging from tribal education and prison reforms to elderly resilience and the rights of widows.

NHRC Members Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi and Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani emphasized that these films serve as powerful tools for advocacy by challenging stereotypes and inspiring action. To maximize their impact, all winning films will be hosted on the NHRC official website for use by academic institutions, government bodies, and civil society organizations to foster human rights awareness across the country.