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Admitted wins ‘Best National Documentary’ at MIFF 2022

Admitted catapults Ojaswwee Sharma to the top as his feature documentary Admitted wins ‘Best National Documentary’ at MIFF 2022



Mumbai, 4 June 2022: The docu-drama ‘Admitted’, directed by Ojaswwee Sharma, bagged the award for Best Documentary Film (above 60 minutes) in the National Competition section at the 17th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) for documentary, short fiction and animation films.

Ojaswwee has more than 80 films to his credit, including internationally acclaimed films Zubaan, The Last Date, Badalti Soch, Chaurassi, Scars – That Remain After 100 Years of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, Silver Lining – The Journey of Rashpal Singh, Kites Beyond Boundaries, Art Finds Its Way, Sarbat Da Bhala and One Beat amongst others.

Elated, Ojaswee Sharma shared, “It’s a huge recognition and I am thankful to Films Division, Govt. Of India for such a successful festival. Admitted got the recognition and so much love from audience is heartening. Filmamkers from various countries, students, and audience from diverse background came and shared on how the film impacted and influenced them, which is the true win for our film and Dhananjay Didi who has continuously been working towards raising awareness and bringing the Trans and entire LGBTQIA+ community in main fold and getting them respectful living.”

Dhananjay shared, “Today I feel my struggle of 20 years has finally paid off. The film getting so much love, attention and the Best Documentary award at highly prestigious MIFF is matter of pride. Ojaswee Sharma has done true justice to the struggle of my life. Admitted got rousing response at the big screen event well attended by filmmakers and film buffs from across the world. That’s really a great thrust for my cause which is education and upliftment of transgender community.”

‘Admitted’ is a biographical docudrama on the inspiring life of Mx. Dhananjay Chauhan – the first transgender student of Panjab University, Chandigarh. The national jury made a special note of the film’s forceful and brave lead character, and how the subject has been dealt by the make. The jury was chaired by national award-winning filmmaker Sanjit Narwekar. The other members were Bangladesh filmmaker Tareq Ahmed, theatre artiste Jayasree Bhattacharya, Sri Lankan journalist and film critic Ashley Ratnavibhushana and film editor Subhash Sehgal.

The seven-day festival, organised by Films Divisions, saw a line-up featuring 400 films from across the world, out of which 102 titles were screened under the Competition Category — 35 in international competition and 67 in national competition. Eighteen documentary films from Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Panama, South Korea, UK and India were in the International Competition section of MIFF 2022.

The 17th Mumbai International Film Festival, first edition post-pandemic, came to a close at Nehru Centre, Mumbai with a grand closing ceremony in the presence of Chief Guest and Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari. This edition had many firsts including being the first edition to be on hybrid mode. The festival witnessed an overall footfall of 9000 till date with approximately 5000 film lovers registered as delegates, including 1400 students.

The event was live streamed on Doordarshan National

Eminent Filmmaker and Guest of Honour, Shyam Benegal appreciated the non-feature filmmakers saying that they are self-motivated to make films that usually don’t have audience unlike main stream films. “When you make a documentary or a short film you don’t have an ensured audience unlike a feature film; you make a short film because you are totally self-motivated; the inspiration to make the film has to come from within. This is the most wonderful part of this evening because these film makers are clearly motivated to make their films. That is something pristine about it, which I think is what film is all about,” he added.

The MIFF 2022 award for Admitted carries a silver conch and cash prize of Rs 5 lakh to be divided half and half between the director and producer. Ojaswee Sharma shared that the cash prize would be shared with Dhananjay and his team at Pinaka Mediaworks whose enthusiastic and technically sound team helped the film get the recognition.
This is Admitted’s 6 award. Before this the documentary has 15 Official Selections to its credit


Scars-That Remain After 100 Years of jallianwala Bagh Massacre

SCARS THAT REMAIN AFTER 100 YEARS OF JALLIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE directed by OJASWWEE SHARMA wins

BEST INSPIRATIONAL FILM

at DESIBLITZ FILM FUSION 2022 AWARDS at BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM

Release issued by Pinaka Mediaworks | June 21st, 2022



DESIblitz®Film Fusion Festival 2022 celebrated the exceptional talent of the festival with film screenings followed the maiden awards event at the MAC- Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham. During the festival this year, SCARS – That Remain After 100 Years of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, film directed by acclaimed Indian film director Ojaswwee Sharma received the award for the Best Inspirational Film for the documentary film.
Scars has been produced by Sikhlens under the Destination S program, uncovering true testimonies that have travelled through generations of the descendant families from the unforgettable chapter of the Indian freedom struggle.

Scars, The 31 minute documentary was screened at this year’s DESIblitz®Film Fusion Festival 2022 along with two more films – Zubaan & The Last Date; both award- winning short films directed by Ojaswwee Sharma, which also have received widespread acclaim, were also official selection to this year’s festival. SCARS That Remain After 100 Years of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre; A Sikhlens & Pinaka Mediaworks s Production, based on true events and stories will release this year


Indi Deol
Executive Director, DESIblitz®Film Fusion Festival

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to work on the DESIblitz Film Fusion Festival . We had some lively debates on who the winners should be for each award and I know we made the right decisions in the end. The best inspirational film winner went to SCARS which was directed by Ojaswwee Sharma and they really did an excellent job on this film and the film touched our audiences in the UK.”


Faisal Shafi
Festival Programme Director, DESIblitz®Film Fusion Festival

“SCARS – That Remain After 100 Years of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre is an inspiring extended short, which gives hope that one day justice will be served. Hats off to director Ojaswwee Sharma and his entire team for bringing this vital historical incident to the limelight through the descendants of the martyrs. This brave film is a deserved winner, particularly for its educational aspects.”



Bicky Singh
Executive Producer of the film, and founder of Sikhlens

“I want to congratulate Ojaswwee Sharma, Sikhlens India head and director of SCARS – That Remain After 100 Years of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, for the best inspirational film at the DESIblitz fusion film festival. Every year Sikhlens Destination S produces films through its scholarship program featuring unique stories. I’m happy to see the Sikhlens films being recognized around the world.”



Ojaswwee Sharma
Film Director
SCARS – That Remain After 100 Years of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

“Filming and presenting Scars has not been an easy journey. Even after more than a hundred years of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, it is one story that must travel far and wide, as the recall value of true stories of the nation’s freedom struggle and it’s impact on the present day sate of the families is left much unspoken. I am thankful to DESIblitz for recognizing the film and showcasing it to the audience in the UK. The recognition received inspires me further to bring out such untold stories. I am thankful to Sikhlens for supporting such projects.”


SILVER LINING – AN INSPIRING JOURNEY

SILVER LINING – An inspiring journey of 17 + years of a philanthropic American-Sikh towards establishing a mission to improve eye-healthcare in Punjab, India is now available to be watched on Sikhlens youtube channel.

Release issued by Pinaka Mediaworks

BICKY SINGH – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE DOCUMENTARY FILM – ‘SILVER LINING’ AND FOUNDER OF SIKHLENS FOUNDATION AND SIKHLENS PRODUCTION

AS A PRODUCER AND FOUNDER OF SIKHLENS, PLEASE TELL US WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO DO SUCH A PROJECT AS SILVER LINING?
Sikhlens has several wonderful programs with leading film schools and one such program is Community Voices. That program looks for Sikh NGOs that are doing amazing work on the global scene and don’t have a digital voice, or films that describe their organization. We basically do SEVA and contribute our resources to produce a film so more people become aware of their work. This eventually leads to more people supporting them financially or volunteering for their cause. In the case of United Sikh Mission, it also helps people who cannot afford critical eye/health care services.

FILM-MAKING IS A LABORIOUS JOB, SO WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED?
Despite the laborious work, I am motivated not only by the success of our existing programs, but also by the need to expand our work. Our mission is to creative positive Sikh-Centric films for both the Sikh community and a mainstream audience. We have several programs that do that. Project S works with students from leading films school to create Sikh-Centric films. Students that have graduated from these film schools work with Destination S to create Sikh-Centric films and use the Sikhlens Equipment Grant for the film-making equipment. Sikhlens Digital Voices Program provides film-making training for younger students and Community Voices produces films for nonprofits. One of my biggest motivations is to take our message outside the four walls of our Gurudwaras and to the mainstream audience. Another motivation is that fact that as a minority we are underrepresented in film-making. I want our parents and children to be excited about film-making and investigate film-making opportunities and careers.

DO YOU THINK THE ROLE OF A PRODUCER IS VITAL?
Yes, because he’s the person who has to select the people and arrange the funding. He’s similar to the conductor of the orchestra coordinating everything, but also making sure there are the resources to produce a good film.

DO YOU THINK MOVIES LIKE SILVER LINING CAN BRING A GOOD CHANGE IN SOCIETY?
Yes, because Silver Lining is depicting the journey of United Sikh Mission, and since the film has had festival screenings before the release, they have grown significantly in their ability to do free eye camps in the rural areas of Punjab. Their goal is to expand to one hundred eye camps, and to help people who need eye care completely free of charge. This is a significant service with a huge impact on peoples’ lives.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS WHEN YOU MAKE A FILM?
There are multiple goals for each film we produce. It must appeal to the Sikh community and the mainstream community. We submit each film to many film festivals and showcase it at our Sikhlens: Sikh Arts and Film Festival held in several locations around the world, including here in Chandigarh in February. After screening at these film festivals for a couple of years, these films then reside on our Sikhlens YouTube channel. In addition to these goals, any Community Voices film, such as Silver Lining, has another goal. It must increase the awareness for the nonprofit Sikh organization enabling them to secure additional resources, whether monetary or manpower. Specifically in terms of United Sikh Mission the goal is to increase the current 50 eye camps to 100. Another goal is to secure support from Fortune 500 companies which are mandated by the Indian government to assist NGOs by providing funding, product contributions or employee volunteers. The film Silver Lining will be sent to pharmaceutical companies with the goal of obtaining eye drops for post-surgery needs. Eye camp participants also receive glasses or sunglasses, and these donations can be increased by the film. The film can also be used to showcase the activities of the United Sikh Mission during the grant writing process. When the goals of the United Sikh Mission are met, they are able to do more SEVA, and provide more camps.

WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY OF A FILM PRODUCER?
The ability to recognize the best people for the job, and then give them the creative freedom to do it. By not getting involved in the day to day and micromanaging, a beautiful project will be created. It is also important to provide the resources for everyone to be successful.

DO YOU AGREE A FILMMAKER HAS TO HAVE GREAT MANAGERIAL SKILLS?
Yes, definitely. But at the same time a filmmaker needs to be flexible for his team to be creative.

RASHPAL SINGH DHINDSA – FOUNDER OF UNITED SIKH MISSION; THE VISIONARY BEHIND THE LARGEST FREE OF COST EYE CAMPS ACROSS PUNJAB INDIA.

HOW HAS BEEN YOUR JOURNEY AS A PHILANTHROPIC TOWARDS ESTABLISHING A MISSION TO IMPROVE EYE-HEALTH CARE IN PUNJAB?
In 2005 we had just started with one eye camp and in the 17 years since we have been able to do a total of about 463 eye camps till date. I look forward to continue to grow this number as we try to reach more areas in need. We have delivered a total of 252,709 eyes drop, 149,092 spectacles, 27,872Cataract surgeries.

HOW DO YOU FEEL THE FILM WILL CONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE AND WHAT IS YOUR AIM FOR THE PEOPLE WHO VIEW THIS FILM?
My hope for this film is for it to create awareness in those who watch it and for them to be inspired by United Sikh Missions actions to take a better look at those in their surroundings and help those in need.

HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN WORKING TO CREATE THIS FILM WITH UNITED SIKH MISSION?

We were very excited in the prospects of reaching more people with this film. Our aim is to create awareness in what we are trying to achieve and expand our operations to reach more people in the future.

HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN WORKING TO CREATE THIS FILM WITH THE PRODUCTION COMPANY SIKH LENS?
I felt that the Sikhlens production company was very professional in the way they conducted business and it made the entire process for film-making smooth and enjoyable.

HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN WORKING TO CREATE THIS FILM WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE FILM OJASWWEE?
I feel that Ojaswwee really helped to keep the message we wanted to show in thefilm intact. He was a pleasure to work with and the film we have made together with him really encapsulates the message we want to send to the people.

SINCE YOU HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE THE FILM, HOW DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE STORY HAS BEEN PORTRAYED? HAS THE FILM DONE JUSTICE FOR YOUR JOURNEY TILL NOW?
I am happy to say that the film shows the kind of work we do and expresses the message well.

OJASWWEE SHARMA – AWARD WINNING FILMMAKER AND DIRECTOR OF THE DOCUMENTARY FILM – ‘SILVER LINING’

HOW WAS IT DIRECTING SILVER LINING?
Silver Lining has been filmed over a period of 3 months and travelling more than 30 locations in Punjab, India. The experience has been very overwhelming. I hope the viewers of Sikhlens understand the magnitude of philanthropic work being done in Punjab.

HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN WITH SIKHLENS AS THE PRODUCERS TO YOUR FILM?
Sikhlens Team and Bicky Singh have been very encouraging to support such subject matters. This film has been curated under the Sikhlens Community Voices Program which aims to showcase humanitarian and philanthropic work being done by various Sikh Organizations in India, USA and other regions of the world.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING A CAREER IN DIRECTION?
I would say, follow your instincts. Directing a film is a very instinctive and collaborative process. Along with being creative, build on people skills as well.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS WHEN YOU DIRECT A FILM?
My goal always stays on the story. I see it from the audience’s perspective after I’ve written the final draft. What does the audience take away from the film? After they have given time and attention to my film, they deserve a take-away. That could be an underlying message or entertainment or both.

THE SCRIPT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO MAKE A FILM. DO YOU THINK ALL DIRECTORS FOCUS ON THAT?
I agree on the first one. Script is the the most important thing in the film. If it falls flat, every other aspect will come crumbling down. Every makers tries to focus on the script. Some come off as successful, some remain in the attempt.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WORK?
Untold stories, and conviction together drive me to work.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO YOUR FANS?
I would just like to them them for supporting my work and watching my films. Support good films, support independent films. Your support and encouragement to such stories encourage lot of makers especially the new ones to come up with brave attempts.

WHAT IS YOUR WORK REGIME?
I have been constantly working since the last 10 years now.

IS DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AN OPPORTUNITY OR A THREAT?
Digital technology is a double sided coin. It is inevitable and as makers we need to keep up with the evolving times.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF FILM FESTIVALS?
Film festivals are a fine platform for screening your films to a new market and networking with the industry and the producer-exhibitors of the hosting region.

The Soul Of Sikhism Vol IX (9) Talk by Aman Singh Gulati

Aman Singh Gulati Pays tribute to Guru Sri Tegh Bahadur Sahib on his 400th Birth Anniversary which will be celebrated across the world on 1st May 2021.


The series of the Almonds produced have been commissioned by Sikhlens Foundation to support the young artist’s endeavour to showcase life teachings and journey of Guru Sri Tegh Bahadur Sahib through 55 unique miniature art using almonds and canvas medium (Almond Art). The Series has been named Soul of Sikhism Volume IX (9) created in continuation to Volume I (1) created by Aman Singh Gulati 2019.

The No. IX (9) in the series denotes the journey and life teachings of the 9th Sikh Guru – Guru Sri Tegh Bahadur Sahib.


The series was greenlighted by Sikhlens and announced in Chandigarh on 21st February 2021 during the 2nd Edition of Sikhlens: Sikh Arts & Film Festival 2021 (India Chapter). 

The special episode, duration 26 minutes, features Aman Singh Gulati talking about each almond explaining the story, morals, and messaging depicted from the journey and life teachings of the 9th Sikh Guru – Guru Sri Tegh Bahadur Sahib.


The program has been produced by Sikhlens Productions & Pinaka Mediaworks, and will be available to watch on Sikhlens YouTube Channel on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXxryvBFZh3DrVa9g_gkZ0g