Latest news with #RajeshChandwani
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Feel humbled: Makers of God Vulture and Human on winning National Award
A still from the dicumentary In a proud moment for Ahmedabad, God Vulture and Human (English, Hindi, and Telugu) won the Best Documentary award at the 71 st National Film Awards. The documentary, co-produced by IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) faculty Dr Rajesh Chandwani and directed by National Institute of Design (NID) alumnus Rishiraj Agarwal, explores organ donation from the perspective of Organ Transplant Coordinators (OTCs). What is the documentary about? God Vulture and Human highlights the role of OTCs in the process of organ donation, retrieval, and transplantation, and explores the challenges faced by them. While the donor's family often has a negative perception about them (they are seen like vultures), the recipient's family perceives them as God. Rishiraj Agarwal, director of the documentary, says, 'The idea of devotion to work is the overarching theme of the documentary. I found the stories of these coordinators really inspiring. ' Dr Rajesh Chandwani OTCs are like symphony artists; they have to manage so many things: Rajesh Chandwani The documentary was inspired by Dr Chandwani's research paper on the same subject. He says, 'I have been working in this field (organ donation) since 2017 and had met Nilesh Mandlewala (founder of an NGO working towards awareness and promotion of organ donation) that year. We had the first NATCO (Network and Alliance of Transplant Coordinators) conference at IIMA in 2018, where I met several OTCs. I was fascinated by their work. The intention behind this documentary was to promote awareness about the crucial role coordinators play and the National Award feels humbling. Not everyone will read my research paper, a documentary allows me to reach out to more people.' He adds, 'OTCs are like symphony artists; they have to manage so many things-convincing the donor's family, coordinating with multiple teams, including cops. They face unforeseen challenges. For example, they may need to arrange for 10kg of ice at a short notice. Also, it can be tricky for them because time is crucial once a person is declared brain dead. However, the donor's family can get angry with them and they have to be careful. We plan to make two more documentaries-one on the donors' families (already shot), and another one on the hospitals and the system.' Rishiraj Agarwal This award has made me more confident: Rishiraj Agarwal Rishiraj, who directed the documentary as a single-person crew, says, 'This was my first attempt at the medium-long documentary format. I had never imagined that I would win a National Award so soon. At NID, our teachers would always talk about the importance of National Awards and I always dreamed of winning one. We had applied to many international fests and while people appreciated my film, overall, the response was mixed, and I had my share of rejections too. This award has made me more confident about my craft and I guess people will also feel more confident now about working with me.' He adds, 'I would always wonder about how people working at the forefront of the healthcare industry must be having their own struggles and grievances towards life. In 2016, after a brain operation and 18 months of regular hospital visits, I lost my father. Post that, while dealing with my own grief, I was able to empathize with others' grief more. When this opportunity came, it instantly hit the right chord and I started working on it. I am grateful to my guide Shilpa Das. Also, my friend Bhuwan constantly motivated me and helped me out with the technical aspects whenever I got stuck.' Talking about OTCs, Rishiraj says, 'Their tireless efforts- coordination with multiple stakeholders and counselling the grieving family, make them unsung heroes who work in silence. The film is an effort to humanize them.'
Indian Express
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
IIMA professor bags National Film Award for documentary
A documentary produced by a faculty member of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has won the Best Documentary Film honours at the 71st National Film Awards for 2023. The documentary, God, Vultures and Human, produced by IIMA Professor Rajesh Chandwani, co-produced with Studio Lichi and directed by Rishiraj Agarwal, highlights the critical role of the Organ Transplant Coordinators (OTCs) during the process of organ donation and transplantation in India. The documentary premiered at the Indian Society of Organ Transplantation Conference 2024 (ISOT 2024) in Ahmedabad and has since been selected for screenings at both national and international festivals, including the Dokubaku International Documentary Film Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan. Reacting to the award, Professor Chandwani, faculty member in the Human Resources Management Area and Co-Chairperson of Centre for Management of Health Services at IIMA, said: 'I feel both humbled and proud to see our film receive the National Award for Best Documentary'. 'This recognition is a tribute to the tireless efforts of Organ Transplant Coordinators across India and the emotional journeys they undertake. I am deeply grateful to have been associated with this cause. I hope the film continues to inspire by placing hope within grief and revealing the quiet miracle of life within the shadow of death,' Chandwani said. The film, made in collaboration with Chennai-based NGO Mohan Foundation, uses intimate storytelling and real-life accounts to portray the emotional and logistical challenges faced by OTCs, said people familiar with the development. The filmmakers hope that the documentary raises awareness about the 'complexities of organ transplantation'.
Indian Express
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
IIM A professor's documentary on organ donation wins National Film Award
A documentary produced by a faculty member of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has been adjudged the Best Documentary Film at the 71st National Film Awards for 2023. The documentary, God, Vultures and Human, produced by IIMA Professor Rajesh Chandwani, co-produced with Studio Lichi and directed by Rishiraj Agarwal, highlights the critical role of the Organ Transplant Coordinators (OTCs) during the process of organ donation and transplantation in India. The documentary premiered at the Indian Society of Organ Transplantation Conference 2024 (ISOT 2024) in Ahmedabad and has since been selected for screenings at both national and international festivals, including the Dokubaku International Documentary Film Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan. Reacting to the award, Professor Chandwani, faculty member in the Human Resources Management Area and Co-Chairperson of Centre for Management of Health Services at IIMA said: 'I feel both humbled and proud to see our film receive the National Award for Best Documentary'. 'This recognition is a tribute to the tireless efforts of Organ Transplant Coordinators across India and the emotional journeys they undertake. I am deeply grateful to have been associated with this cause. I hope the film continues to inspire by placing hope within grief and revealing the quiet miracle of life within the shadow of death,' Chandwani said. The film, made in collaboration with Chennai-based NGO Mohan Foundation, uses intimate storytelling and real-life accounts to portray the emotional and logistical challenges faced by OTCs, said people familiar with the development. It shows how these professionals operate as 'critical links between donor families, hospitals, police, and forensic teams, coordinating transplants while navigating grief, anger, and ethical dilemmas,' said the people. The filmmakers hope that the documentary raises awareness about the 'complexities of organ transplantation' as well as 'honours the selfless work of OTCs who give the gift of life every day'.
