Admitted

For the word, see wikt:admitted.
Admitted
Official Poster
Directed byOjaswwee Sharma
Written byOjaswwee Sharma
Produced byPinaka Mediaworks
StarringDhananjay Chauhan
Edited byBhasker Pandey
Release date
  • 13 June 2020 (2020-06-13)
Running time
118 Minutes
CountryIndia
LanguagesEnglish, Hindi

Admitted is a 2020 Indian Hindi-language docudrama film directed by Chandigarh-based director Ojaswwee Sharma. The film is about Dhananjay Chauhan, the first transgender student at Panjab University.[1] The role of Dhananjay Chauhan has been played by Dhananjay herself.[2]

Admitted was declared best documentary at 17th Mumbai International Film Festival, and won the Silver Conch award for Best Documentary Film (above 60 minutes) in the National Competition section.[2] It won the National Film Award – Special Jury Award (feature film) at the 68th National Film Awards.[3]

Plot

The film, narrated by Dhananjay Chauhan, tells the story of five decades of the life of Dhananjay, a doctoral scholar at Panjab University[4][5] It focuses on Dhananjay's struggles to uplift her life and the transgender community to mainstream society.[2] It also depicts Dhananjay's crusade against authorities for the transgender rights.[6]

Production

Produced by Pinaka Mediaworks, the film was announced in August 2018. The film was shot in and around Panjab University campus. The film is around two hours long.[5] Director Ojaswwee Sharma, also an alumnus of Panjab University, said in the interview that he "wanted to explore this famous example of transgender education in a mainstream public university in North India, and the development of transgender rights, education and acceptance to the mainstream".[5]

Release

The film was to release in March 2020 on International Transgender Day of Visibility, but due to COVID-19 lockdown in India, the release was delayed. It was released on Rolling Frames Entertainment's YouTube channel on 13 June 2020.[5]

Reception

Admitted won the Silver Conch award for Best Documentary Film at 17th Mumbai International Film Festival.[7] The jury noted "film's forceful and brave lead character, and how the subject has been dealt with by the filmmaker".[8] The film also won the National Film Award – Special Jury Award (feature film) at 68th National Film Awards.[3]

The film was also shown at several film festivals including NFDC Film Bazaar, Goa; Jagran Film Festival, Mumbai; Bioscope Global Film Festival, Amritsar; Tarang - Delhi International Queer Theatre & Film Festival; and Impact Doc Awards, California.[5]

References

  1. ^ "MIFF 2022: Top prizes for 'Turn Your Body to the Sun' and Indian documentary 'Admitted'". Scroll.in. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Nijher, Jaspreet (9 June 2022). "Films as entertainment is fine, but some need to highlight real people, real stories: Ojaswwee Sharma". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b Nijher, Jaspreet (22 July 2022). "Ojaswwee Sharma's Film, Admitted Bags National Award". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  4. ^ Nijher, Jaspreet (23 July 2022). "National Film Awards: Films from Chandigarh, Punjab & Haryana win". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e Alexander, Deepa (10 June 2020). "Film on first transgender student of Panjab University releases on June 13". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Panjab University was first to build separate washroom for transgender students". The Times of India. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Ojaswwee Sharma's Admitted declared best documentary at MIFF". Hindustan Times. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  8. ^ "MIFF: Chandigarh-based filmmaker's Admitted wins award". The Indian Express. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.