Crowdfunded Short Film On Migrant Labourers By Odisha Director Wins Accolades At International Film Festival

Bhubaneswar: ‘Ravaiyaa’, a crowdfunded short film has won the ‘Best Thought-Provoking Concept’ award at another International Film Festival- ‘Cinema of the World, Mumbai’ held virtually on August 16, 2020.

Earlier, it won accolades at five International Film Festivals.

‘Ravaiyaa’ was one among the 80 participating films in the ‘Best Thought-Provoking Concept’ category. It is the first crowdfunded short film made under the banner of BnR Films, written and directed by award-winning director Biswanath Rath.

The film is based on a true story and a few real-life incidents, that took place across India during the national lockdown.

‘Ravaiyaa’ means attitude. According to its makers, the film makes a humble attempt at showing the brighter side of India’s migrant labourers during this unprecedented time of the pandemic.

The film was produced in May 2020 (during lockdown period), has been entirely shot on smartphones and from the respective homes of the actors, informed Biswanath.

Biswanath said, “I dedicate this award to the never-say-die spirit of Indian migrant labourers. After all, it’s their true story of courage, honesty and self-esteem which inspired me to make this film. Upon its release, we received an overwhelming response for the film and its title song ‘India Jeetega’ from the audience as well as critics. The remote direction was certainly quite challenging, yet exciting.”

Prior to this award, the film had its World Festival Premiere at Lift-Off Sessions, the UK in July 2020. Recently, the film also received ‘Official Selection’ at the Asian International Film Festival, Japan and Essex DocFest, the UK, to be held in September and October 2020 respectively.