Rishiraj Agarwal, a 2018 batch student from the Film and Video Communication (FVC) MDes programme at the National Institute of Design (NID), has bagged the Best Documentary award at the 71st National Film Awards for his graduation film God Vulture and Human. The project was mentored by Dr Shilpa Das and sponsored by IIM-Ahmedabad. The concept was inspired by a research paper on organ donation written by IIM-A professor Dr Rajesh Chandwani, who also co-produced the film.
According to a media report, Agarwal shared, “I was just 28 when I made this film—from ideation to shooting, colour grading, and every aspect of its creation, I handled it all myself. There was minimal budget, no fancy equipment—just a handycam, and in some parts, even a phone. It was raw, personal, and entirely driven by passion.”
The documentary transforms Dr Chandwani’s research into a visual narrative, focusing on the crucial but often overlooked role of transplant coordinators. It sheds light on the emotional and logistical challenges they face in the organ donation and transplantation process, told through the stories of four coordinators navigating the line between life and death.
Another NID alumnus honoured at National Awards
Adding to NID’s glory, alumnus Manish Saini’s short film Giddh (The Scavenger) has won the award for Best Short Film (under 30 minutes). The film was also featured as the closing presentation at Alpavirama 2024, the biennial film festival organised by the Department of Film and Video Communication at NID.
Saini, who primarily works in Gujarati cinema, made his mark with his debut film Dhh (2017), which earned the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Gujarati at the 65th National Film Awards.