Did Raakesh Rawat’s 'Almari Ka Achaar' Win the German Star at the Indian Film Festival Stuttgart 2025?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Raakesh Rawat's directorial prowess shines through in 'Almari Ka Achaar'.
- The film addresses significant social issues regarding same-gender relationships.
- Winning the German Star of India Award is a notable achievement for Indian cinema.
- Strong performances by the lead actors enhance the film's emotional depth.
- The project showcases the importance of inclusivity in storytelling.
Mumbai, July 31 (NationPress) Director Raakesh Rawat’s 'Almari Ka Achaar' premiered globally at the recently held 22nd Indian Film Festival Stuttgart 2025.
During this festival, the film received the prestigious German Star of India Award in the Short Film category.
Excitedly announcing the news on social media, Rawat expressed, “We won the best short film award from the category, competing with so many beautiful films at @iff.stuttgart | Kudos, team Almari Ka Achaar ;))”
Set in a conservative Indian backdrop, 'Almari Ka Achaar' tells the poignant story of a middle-aged same-gender couple navigating the complexities of their profound connection while facing societal and familial pressures.
The film stars Manwendra Tripathy and Manoj Sharma in pivotal roles.
Reflecting on receiving the German Star of India Award, Rawat stated, “Winning this award makes me happy. At the same time, it reminds me of the responsibility I now carry to take this film to many more places and do justice to the film we’ve made.”
In addition to directing, Rawat also managed the cinematography and editing for the film.
The screenplay, story, and dialogues of 'Almari Ka Achaar' were crafted by Vishal Nahar.
The film’s music was composed by Kanish Sharma.
Sharing her enthusiasm about the victory, Kanish wrote on Instagram, “Almari Ka Achaar our short film has won Best Short Film, German Star of India at IFF Stuttgart, Germany! Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this story to life. Grateful to have contributed as music director and singer!”
'Almari Ka Achaar' marks Rawat’s second directorial project following his acclaimed debut, 'Midnight Delhi', which received accolades including the Best Editor award at the Singapore South Asian International Film Festival 2018 and the Best Debut Director award at the Rajasthan International Film Festival 2020.