Riyad Wadia Award for Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker Nominations for KASHISH 2023

Instituted in memory of late filmmaker Riyad Wadia, who made India’s first gay film BOMgAY, Riyad Wadia Award for Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker is an attempt by KASHISH to recognize and nurture emerging Indian voices. Indian narrative and documentary short films that are the filmmaker’s first or second film made in 2022/2023 compete for this award which carries a KASHISH Butterfly Trophy and a Rs.25,000 cash award supported by Wadia Movietone – one of the pioneering Indian production companies established in 1933.  

Six emerging Indian directors have been nominated under this category for KASHISH 2023. Their films collectively display narratives about the diverse spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community.

ABHINAV DUBEY (Director, Marigold)

Abhinav Dubey is an Indian Film Director and Screenwriter based out of Indore. He has a BA in Mass Communication and Journalism and received his Master’s Degree in Filmmaking (Direction) from the Northern Film School, Leeds, England. After the successful run of his recent short film at international festivals, he is working on his first feature film, for which the screenplay is in the final stage.

ARVIND CAULAGI (Director, Taps)

Arvind Caulagi is an independent filmmaker based out of Mumbai. In 2021, Arvind wrote, directed, shot, edited, and produced Nishaan (Traces), a narrative short that was officially selected to compete at the 15th Edition of SiGNS Festival Kerala. The film is a queer interpretation of O. Henry’s short story “The Furnished Room”.  In 2022, he won the KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant, awarded to queer filmmakers in India annually, to write and direct Taps. 

Currently, he is writing his first feature film.

KARTIKA NAINAN DUBEY (Director, Oas)

Kartika Nainan Dubey works in Mumbai as a writer & director. She has written lyrics for some feature films. She also writes and directs advertisements.
In 2018, a short film Daayan written and directed by her was screened at Court Métrage Short films corner Festival De Cannes 2018 and also at KAFFNY Infinite Cinema 2018, BISFF 2019. Oas (Drew Drops) is her second narrative short film. Currently, she is writing screenplays, dialogues and lyrics.

PRATAP HARODE (Director, Jaayaz)

Pratap Harode is a filmmaker who is passionate about delving into the intricacies of human relationships and the struggles faced by individuals grappling with their sexual identity. Having completed his education in filmmaking at Whistling Woods International, he has worked his way up from being an associate editor and assistant director to directing corporate and brand films. His debut fiction project, Jaayaz, is a testament to his vision and storytelling abilities. Presently, he is working on a feature documentary that is in post-production and co-writing a feature script with his mentor.

PREETI KANUNGO (Director, Malwa Khushan)

Preeti Kanungo is an independent filmmaker and a social worker, who believes in making cinema that speaks to her. She feels passionate about telling stories that provide some answers and the warmth of a tight hug. Through her art, she tries to understand the complexities of human emotions and the human world and present them in simple forms. She is also a part-time stop-motion animator, which is one thing that brings her alive. She wishes to experiment with the medium of cinema and make a lot of experimental films. Malwa Khushan is Preeti’s debut narrative film.

SOURAV YADAV (Co-Director, Malwa Khushan)

Sourav Yadav is a multi-talented filmmaker with a producing, cinematography, and color grading background. His experience working behind the camera and in post-production has given him a unique perspective on visual storytelling. It helped him bring a distinctive look and feel in Malwa Khushan while collaborating with Preeti. It is his first short film as a director after college. Sourav is excited to continue exploring the intersection of Directing and cinematography in future projects.