10 National Award-Winning Short Films To Watch On YouTube For Free

These acclaimed films demonstrate that impactful storytelling doesn't require lengthy runtimes. Each selection represents excellence in filmmaking, having received recognition from India's most prestigious film awards.

National Award-Winning Short Films on YouTube

Syaahi (IMDb Rating: 8.7/10)

This emotionally charged film explores the complex relationship between a young boy and his father. The story centres on a young boy who shares a strained relationship with his father, a struggling writer burdened with financial stress.

Kal 15 August Dukan Band Rahegi (IMDb Rating: 5.8/10)

Set in the bustling environment of Delhi University, this film captures the essence of student life during a holiday period. The narrative follows a group of Delhi University students living in a cramped apartment on campus, as they plan how they'd spend their upcoming holiday on 15th August.

Pistulya (IMDb Rating: 9.2/10)

This powerful drama addresses caste discrimination and educational inequality in rural India. The story follows a Dalit boy from a village in Maharashtra who desires to attend school, but his social circumstances force him to work in the stealing business that his family has been associated with for generations.

Chaitra (IMDb Rating: 3/10)

Set during traditional festivities, this film explores themes of honour, humiliation, and revenge within village communities. The story unfolds during the Chaitra festivities in a village in Maharashtra, where a woman decides to take revenge against a neighbourhood woman over a public humiliation.

Kachichinithu (The Boy With A Gun)

This psychological drama explores the dangerous attraction between children and weapons. The film tells the story of Lonsing, a schoolboy who accidentally discovers a small bag containing a pistol on the road, and how he becomes increasingly but secretly fascinated with it.

Tokri (The Basket) (IMDb Rating: 7.1/10)

This stop-motion animated film demonstrates the power of determination and creativity in solving problems. The story centres on a young girl who accidentally breaks her father's cherished stopwatch and starts selling homemade baskets to pay for its repair.

The film's animation style adds charm to its heartwarming narrative about responsibility and making amends. Its message about hard work and dedication resonates across age groups.

The Chola Heritage

This documentary showcases India's rich cultural heritage through architectural and artistic achievements. The film highlights the Dravidian temple architecture and bronze sculpture, which attained the creative pinnacle during the rule of the Cholas in the 10th and 11th centuries, told entirely through videos and images of the temples and statues.

A Pinch Of Skin (IMDb Rating: 8.6/10)

This documentary tackles a sensitive but important social issue with courage and empathy. Described as a harrowing documentary about the practice of female genital mutilation in certain communities in India, told from the perspective of the survivors of the practice.

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Eight Column Affair (IMDb Rating: 7.2/10)

This creative film pushes the boundaries of conventional storytelling through its imaginative premise. The surrealist narrative imagines a newspaper coming to life, when an athlete featured on the front page falls in love with a tennis starlet featured on the last page of a newspaper, and sets out on a journey through the newspaper pages in order to meet her.

Bazaar Sitaram (IMDb Rating: 9.2/10)

This unique production combines documentary and fictional elements to create a rich narrative tapestry. Set as a stunning docu-fiction set in the lanes of Old Delhi, fusing a sociological study of the distinct neighbourhood with a partly fictional story of unfulfilled love.

These National Award-winning short films represent the diversity and quality of Indian cinema. They address important social issues, showcase technical innovation, and provide entertainment value within compact formats.

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