Manish Saini has secured his third National Film Award, winning in the Best Short Film (Up to 30 Minutes) category at the 71st National Film Awards for his Hindi short film Giddh – The Scavenger.
This achievement follows his earlier national wins for the Gujarati feature Dhh (2017) and children’s film Gandhi & Co. (2022). The latest award reinforces his reputation for creating stories that combine meaningful content with strong visual storytelling.
Award at a Glance:
Film: Giddh – The Scavenger (Hindi, ~24 min)
Category: Best Short Film (Up to 30 Minutes) – Non-Feature Section
Recognition: National honour with Rajat Kamal and cash prize
Saini’s consistent success is seen as an inspiration for filmmakers working outside the mainstream, proving that regional and short-form cinema can make a mark at the highest level.