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
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 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  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.
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