The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) hosted a special ceremony in New Delhi to honor the winners of its 2024 Short Film Competition on Human Rights. The annual event, which began in 2015 with just 40 entries, has grown significantly, receiving over 300 submissions this year from across the country.

Addressing the gathering, NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian emphasized the growing importance of human rights awareness through visual storytelling. He commended the seven award-winning filmmakers for their efforts in highlighting pressing human rights concerns, from environmental pollution and education to women’s rights and social justice.

Top Award Winners The first prize of Rs 2 lakh was awarded to Doodh Ganga – Valley’s Dying Lifeline, directed by Abdul Rashid Bhat from Jammu & Kashmir. The documentary highlights the severe pollution of Kashmir’s Doodh Ganga River due to industrial and domestic waste and urges action to restore its pristine condition.

The second prize of Rs 1.5 lakh went to Fight for Rights by Kadarappa Raju from Andhra Pradesh. The film focuses on the prevalence of child marriage and underscores the importance of education in breaking this cycle.

The third prize of Rs 1 lakh was awarded to GOD by R. Ravichandran from Tamil Nadu. This silent film powerfully conveys the importance of potable water through the story of an elderly protagonist.

Special Mentions Four films received Certificates of Special Mention along with a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each:

Aksharabhyasam by Haneesh Undramatla (Telangana)

Vilayilla Pattathari (An Inexpensive Graduate) by R. Selvam (Tamil Nadu)

Life of Seetha by Madaka Venkata Satyanarayana (Andhra Pradesh)

Be a Human by Lotla Naveen (Andhra Pradesh)

Justice Ramasubramanian acknowledged the increasing participation and impact of the competition, noting that the number of entries has grown significantly over the years. He described the filmmakers as "brand ambassadors of human rights" and encouraged them to continue using cinema as a tool for advocacy.

NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal highlighted the rigorous three-tier selection process that determined the winners and announced that all award-winning films will be available for public viewing on the NHRC website. These films will also be made accessible for human rights awareness programs conducted by government bodies, academic institutions, and civil society organizations.

The event concluded with the awardees sharing their experiences and the inspiration behind their films, reinforcing the power of cinema in shaping public discourse on human rights.