INDIA: The 13th Aarogya Film Festival, jointly organized by the P.M. Shah Foundation and Vardhaman Pratishthan concluded successfully at the National Film Archive of India on Law College Road, Pune. In the Short Film category, ‘Drushtikon’, a film on eye donation directed by Dr. Sameer Datar, won the first prize. In the Documentary category, ‘Jeevitham (The Life)’, directed by Ali Arikath from Kerala, which focuses on spinal injury and safety, bagged the top honors.
The two-day festival showcased 34 short films and documentaries covering topics relating to mental health, breast cancer, organ donation, and the environment. Selected from 150 entries nationwide, these films highlighted critical health issues. The event concluded in the presence of renowned actress Madhurani Gokhale Prabhulkar. Prominent attendees included festival organizer Adv. Chetan Gandhi and Satish Kondhalkar, President- Flair Network Systems.
Speaking at the award function, Madhurani said, “Health is a critical issue, and conveying it through films is a powerful way to raise awareness. Mental health is a growing concern, with terms like depression and anxiety used rampantly. Social media plays a significant role in deteriorating mental well-being, and addressing these challenges is essential. Despite the dominance of shallow entertainment, It is commendable to see filmmakers creating meaningful, health-focused content as is seen in the movies in this festival.”
The awards presented included in the Short Film category 1st Prize went to ‘Drushtikon’ by Dr. Sameer Datar, 2nd Prize to ‘Paris’ by Mukund Khuperkar, and 3rd Prize was given to ‘Antarnaad (The Voice Within)’ by Parthaa Akerkar. Whereas, in the documentary 1st Prize was presented to ‘Jeevitham (The Life)’ by Ali Arikath, 2nd Prize was given to ‘Griha Aar Paibo Kotha (Where Shall I Find Home)’ by Vrushab Maitri, and the 3rd Prize was bagged by Right to Clean Environment’ by Dr. Balkrishna Damle (C.D.O.E., K.V.V. Karad).
