'Rador Pakhi' wins Jury Special Mention at Moscow Women's Film Fest
Synopsis
An Assamese film about a writer living with spinal muscular atrophy has won a jury honour at a Moscow women's film festival — the latest in a remarkable international run that spans Goa, Melbourne, Canada, and now Russia. Rador Pakhi is quietly making the case that Northeast India's stories belong on the world stage.
Key Takeaways
Rador Pakhi (Morning Sunshine) won the Jury Special Mention – Super Mama Award at the International Film Festival Made by Women in Moscow .
The festival was held from 8 to 12 July ; the film competed in the official Competition Section .
Directed by Dr Bobby Sarma Baruah , the film is inspired by the real-life story of writer Sarmistha Pritam and centres on a protagonist with spinal muscular atrophy .
The film premiered at the 55th IFFI in Goa in 2024 and has since screened at festivals in Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Melbourne, Thrissur, and Canada .
The film is produced by Basanta Kumar Baruah , Dr Bobby Sarma Baruah , and Sulakhyana Baruah .
Assamese feature film Rador Pakhi (Morning Sunshine), directed by Dr Bobby Sarma Baruah, has won the Jury Special Mention – Super Mama Award at the International Film Festival Made by Women in Moscow. The film competed in the festival's official Competition Section, held in the Russian capital from 8 to 12 July, marking another milestone for cinema from Northeast India.
The Story Behind the Film
Inspired by the real-life experiences of writer Sarmistha Pritam, Rador Pakhi traces the journey of Jyoti, a young aspiring writer from Assam who is diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at an early age. Despite severe physical limitations, Jyoti's resolve to live independently and pursue her literary ambitions forms the emotional backbone of the narrative. The film brings a rarely told story of disability, resilience, and creative will to the screen.
What the Director Said
'This journey became even more meaningful as our film received the Jury Special Mention – Super Mama Award. Receiving this recognition on an international platform is truly an honour and a proud moment for our entire team,' said Dr Bobby Sarma Baruah. She dedicated the honour to every member of the cast and crew: 'This recognition belongs to every member of our incredible cast and crew, whose passion and hard work made this film possible. I also thank our friends, well-wishers and everyone who believed in us.'
An Extensive International Festival Run
The Moscow recognition caps an already impressive global circuit for Rador Pakhi. The film was selected for the NFDC Film Bazaar Co-Production Market and made its world premiere in the Indian Panorama section of the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in 2024. It subsequently screened at the Asian Spectrum section of the 21st Third Eye Asian Film Festival in Mumbai, the 23rd Pune International Film Festival, the Indian Competition section of the 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, the 20th International Film Festival of Thrissur, and the Mosaic International Film Festival in Canada.
Cast, Crew and Wider Significance
The film is produced by Basanta Kumar Baruah, Dr Bobby Sarma Baruah, and Sulakhyana Baruah, with Sulakhyana Baruah, Kamal Lochan, Arun Nath, and Bina Patangia in key roles. The Moscow award adds fresh momentum to Assamese cinema's growing presence on the international stage — a region whose storytelling has historically received limited mainstream visibility. Dr Baruah noted that the honour 'inspires us to continue telling stories that touch hearts and transcend borders.'
What's Next
With multiple international screenings already behind it and a major festival award now in hand, Rador Pakhi is expected to attract wider distribution interest. The film's trajectory signals a broader appetite for regional Indian cinema that centres underrepresented voices and experiences.
Point of View
A category that rarely attracts commercial backing. Dr Baruah has built the film's profile the hard way, through festival circuit credibility rather than marquee distribution. The real question is whether this international momentum translates into wider domestic release and production support for similar stories from the region — because the pipeline of such filmmakers remains thin.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What award did Rador Pakhi win at the Moscow film festival?
Rador Pakhi won the Jury Special Mention – Super Mama Award at the International Film Festival Made by Women in Moscow, held from 8 to 12 July. The film competed in the festival's official Competition Section.
What is Rador Pakhi about?
Rador Pakhi (Morning Sunshine) is an Assamese film inspired by the real-life story of writer Sarmistha Pritam. It follows Jyoti, a young woman from Assam diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, whose determination to live independently and pursue writing forms the emotional core of the story.
Who directed Rador Pakhi?
The film was directed by Dr Bobby Sarma Baruah, an acclaimed Assamese filmmaker. It was produced by Basanta Kumar Baruah, Dr Bobby Sarma Baruah, and Sulakhyana Baruah.
Where else has Rador Pakhi screened internationally?
The film premiered at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in 2024 and has since screened at the Third Eye Asian Film Festival in Mumbai, the Pune International Film Festival, the Bengaluru International Film Festival, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, the Thrissur International Film Festival, and the Mosaic International Film Festival in Canada.
Why does Rador Pakhi matter for Indian regional cinema?
The film's sustained international festival run highlights the growing global appetite for regional Indian storytelling, particularly from Northeast India. Its success challenges the notion that non-Hindi, disability-centred narratives lack international resonance.
