Award to documentary on tribal art

Lucknow: A documentary on Maharashtra’s fading tribal art forms bagged the top prize at the Lucknow International Film Festival from over 3,500 entries from more than 40 countries.Directed by Arun Shekhar, Thakar Folk Arts was recognised for its artistic presentation and focus on preserving the cultural heritage of the Thakar tribe. The award was presented by filmmaker Rahul Rawail along with Padma Shri awardees Anil Rastogi and Vidya Bindu Singh.Shekhar dedicated the award to the Thakar community, saying the film aimed to document and preserve their vanishing traditions.Jury members noted that such documentaries play an important role in reconnecting younger generations with India’s cultural roots.The win is being seen as a notable achievement for Indian documentary cinema at the international platform.