Film on JK Gujjars adjudged best in 60th National Awards

Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 19: Raja Shabir Khan-directed `Shepherds of Paradise’ in Gojri and Urdu has been adjudged the Best Film in non-feature category at the 60th National Awards.
The film was lauded for portraying the life of nomadic shepherd Gujjars-Bakerwals families of Jammu and Kashmir with an energy that goes far beyond empathy, creating a moving and compelling narrative that is vividly committed to its subject.
Shepherds of Paradise shared the Best Cinematography award with Marathi film Kaatal, which won the Best Direction (Vikrant Pawar) and Best Short Fiction awards as well. The Awards were announced today at New Delhi.
According to Dr Javaid Rahi, secretary Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, this was for the first time that a film in Gojri has been adjudged best in national level competition.
As per announcement the Odiya film Eka Gachha Eka Manisa Eka Samudra, helmed by Lipika Singh Darai, was named the Best Debut Film of a Director.
The Best Anthropological/Ethnographic Film award went to Sourav Sarangi-directed Bengali film Char… The No-Man’s Land, while Celluloid Man, directed by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur in English, Hindi, Kannada and Bengali, was given the Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction and Best Editing awards.