A list of a few must-watch Indian National award documentaries bringing to fore some real stories

The cinema we see on the big screen or on our laptops is laced with songs, climax, and unlimited entertainment. However, the other fragment of cinema known as the documentaries focus on real-life issues and are a great reality check.

Celluloid Man By director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, this documentary looks into the life of Indian archivist PK Nair and the founder of the National Film Archive of India. Fondly remembered as the guardian of Indian cinema, Nair has saved nine films from the silent era out of the 1,700 films produced during that time. The documentary is a tribute to his love for celluloid and throws light on the importance of preserving our cinema. He won two National Awards at the 60th National Film Awards, one for Best Biographical Film and another for Best Editing.

Children Of The Pyre Directed and produced by Rajesh S. Jala, the film follows the lives of seven children living and working under extreme conditions at India’s busiest cremation grounds in Manikarnika, Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges. Exploring the lives of these children who steal and sell to make their ends meet, this documentary takes you through the reality of the Varanasi ghats. The director shot over 100 hours of footage, including the candid interviews with the seven children talking about their life. The film was awarded Silver Lotus Award for Best Audiography at the 56th National Film Awards, the Best Documentary at 2008 Montréal World Film Festival and Los Angeles Indian Film Festival.

Gulabi Gang Based on a group of women by the same name, the documentary Gulabi gang aka Pink Gang is a Norwegian-Indian–Danish co-production documentary written and directed by Nishtha Jain. The group founded by Sampat Pal Devi was a response to the domestic abuse and other violence against women rising in her village. The film captures and explores the daily lives of Gulabis who beat abusive husbands. It also traces the journey of Pal, and how her individual movement snowballed into a large number of women.

Inshallah, Football This 2014 documentary by Ashvin Kumar is from the eyes of an aspiring football player from the valley of Kashmir. Capturing the struggles of an 18-year old Kashmiri boy aspiring to play football in Brazil and after getting selected to play there how his dreams are dashed as he is denied a passport. The film received the Best Film on Social Issues, and the Best Non-Feature Film editing award at the 61st National Film Awards.

It is time you take a break from the feature, thriller, or romantic cinematic narrations and dive into the world of reality on celluloid.