**Executive Summary**
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has announced the seven winners of its 11th annual short film competition on Human Rights for 2025. The winning films were selected from 526 entries by a Full Commission jury, with an award presentation ceremony to follow. The competition aims to promote awareness and creative contributions to human rights.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Award Winners**
* First Prize: 'Rani' (Uttar Pradesh) - Depicts class divide, inequality, and challenges of women domestic workers.
* Second Prize: 'Meanwhile She..' (Kerala) - Addresses human rights concerns of working women facing gender stereotypes and domestic violence.
* Third Prize: 'The Delivery' (Tamil Nadu) - Highlights the struggles and human rights concerns of gig workers.
* Certificate of Special Mention: Four films focusing on education, prison reforms, rights of elderly tribal couples, and rights of widows.
* **Prize Money**
* First Prize: ₹2 lakh
* Second Prize: ₹1.5 lakh
* Third Prize: ₹1 lakh
* Certificate of Special Mention: ₹50,000 each
* **Competition Details**
* The NHRC Short Film Award was instituted in 2015 to encourage promotion and protection of human rights.
* The 2025 competition received 526 entries in about 24 languages and dialects.
* 438 entries met the terms and conditions.
* A three-round jury process was conducted, including a Full Commission jury chaired by Justice V. Ramasubramanian.
**Impact Analysis**
**Filmmakers**
* **Impact**: Recognition for their work and contribution to raising awareness on human rights issues, along with cash prizes.
* **Action Required**: None explicitly mentioned, but they will be notified and participate in the award ceremony.
**National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)**
* **Impact**: Achieves its objective of encouraging awareness and creative contributions to human rights promotion through the competition.
* **Action Required**: To organize and conduct the award presentation ceremony.
**General Public / Society**
* **Impact**: Increased awareness of human rights issues depicted in the winning films, potentially fostering dialogue and action.
* **Action Required**: None explicitly mentioned, but engagement with the films is encouraged.
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): The primary organization announcing the competition and awards for short films on human rights.
NHRC Short Film Award: The specific program or initiative for which the announcement is made.
Justice V. Ramasubramanian: Chairperson of the Full Commission Jury for the NHRC Short Film Award.
Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani: Member of the NHRC and headed the second-round jury.
Uttar Pradesh: Location from which the first prize-winning film 'Rani' originated.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC announces 7 winners of its 11th annual
competition for short films on Human Rights
The Full Commission jury chooses award winning films out of
526 entries in about 24 languages & dialects from various
parts of India
The short film ‘Rani’ from Uttar Pradesh depicting class
divide, inequality and challenges faced by women domestic
workers impacting their human rights through the
transformative perspective of a young woman clinches first
prize
‘Meanwhile She..’ from Kerala on human rights concerns of
working women amidst challenges of gender stereotypes and
domestic violence bags second prize
‘The Delivery’ from Tamil Nadu highlights the struggles of gig
workers and their human rights concerns gets third prize
Four films highlighting issues related to education, prison
reforms, rights of elderly tribal couple and widows
respectively selected for the ‘Certificate of Special Mention
Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 6:04PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has announced the 7 winners of its ‘eleventh
annual competition for short films on human rights for the year 2025.The Full Commission Jury has chosen 'Rani' for the first prize, which also carries a cash prize of ₹ 2 lakh.
The film by Ms. Sarika Jain from Uttar Pradesh is a powerful depiction of how stereotypes fuel class
divisions and inequality, portraying the struggles of women domestic workers and their human rights
concerns through the transformative perspective of a young woman. The film is in Hindi with English
subtitles.
‘Meanwhile She..’ by Shri Amal S. from Kerala has been selected for the second prize, which carries a
prize of ₹ 1.5 lakh. The film raises the issue of a disproportionate burden carried by working women
amidst challenges of gender stereotypes and domestic violence. The film is in Malayalam with English
subtitles.
‘The Delivery’ by Shri Sai Shashank Tati from Tamil Nadu has been selected for the third prize of ₹ 1
lakh. The film highlights the struggles of gig workers, such as job insecurity, harsh working conditions
and lack of social security, through the poignant story of a boy. The film is in Tamil with English subtitles.
The Commission has also decided to give a cash award of ₹ 50,000/- each to the four short films selected
for the’ Certificate of Special Mention’. These are:
i.) ‘Malati’ by Ms. Falguni Bhakta from West Bengal. The documentary film in Bengali with subtitles in
English highlights the voluntary initiative of a tribal woman to educate children of her community and the
importance of education;ii.) ‘Second Chance’ by Shri Ravi Karnwal from Uttar Pradesh. Based on a prison in Uttarakhand, the
documentary in Hindi with subtitles in English highlights the importance of prison reforms to help
prisoners rebuild their lives through counselling and rehabilitation with appropriate skill development;
iii.) ‘Dusk of Life’ by Shri Damodar D. Pawar from Maharashtra. It is in Marathi with English subtitles.
The documentary film highlights the challenges and resilience of a childless elderly tribal couple and their
right to life and livelihood with dignity; and
iv.) ‘Bhagyashree’ by Shri Manoj Appaso Janwekar from Maharashtra. The film in Marathi with English
subtitles highlights the issues faced by young widows in rural households and their right to life with
dignity.The Full Commission Jury was chaired by the NHRC Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian
comprising Members, Justice (Dr.) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, Secretary
General, Shri Bharat Lal, Registrar (Law), Shri Joginder Singh, Joint Secretaries, Shri Samir Kumar and
Smt. Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak.
The NHRC Short Film Award was instituted in 2015 with the aim to encourage citizens to raise concerns,
awareness and creatively contribute towards promotion and protection of human rights. In the 2025
competition, a total of 526 short films were received from various parts of the country in about 24
languages and dialects including Hindi and English. Out of these, 438 entries fulfilling the terms and
conditions were considered for the awards.
The films went through a three-round jury process. In the first stage, three panels shortlisted48 films.
Thereafter, a second-round jury headed by Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, Member, NHRC shortlisted 20
films. In the final round, the Full Commission Jury decided the seven winners. The award presentation
ceremony will follow.
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