Cannes Applauds Indian Voices: Dekha Kya? Wins Best Documentary and Best Director at 2025 World Film Festival

The Aditya Bhasin-directed docudrama, created with NGO Drishti, explores child blindness in Firozabad and the struggles of underserved children across India

Dekha Kya?, a short documentary produced and directed by Aditya Bhasin, has won top honors at the 2025 World Film Festival in Cannes. The film received the awards for Best Documentary Short and Best Director in the documentary short category.
Created in collaboration with Drishti, an NGO led by Sanjana Chauhan, the film sheds light on the harsh realities faced by children in Firozabad who suffer permanent eye damage while working in the bangle industry. It also examines preventable blindness in urban areas where access to early diagnosis is lacking.

The story is told through the fictional radio host Banno, whose monologue weaves together real stories of invisible suffering, resilience, and systemic neglect.
Aditya Bhasin, who took on the roles of writer, director, and producer, shared that the project began after learning about Drishti’s on-ground work in Firozabad.

I didn’t want to remain a passive observer. This film gave me a voice to speak up for those who are rarely heard. These awards are a recognition of their stories,” said Bhasin.
Sanjana Chauhan, whose grassroots work inspired the film, added, Drishti started as a personal mission. When Aditya reached out after hearing about our work, we knew this was a way to take the message further. This recognition is deeply meaningful for our cause.

The recognition at Cannes not only highlights the power of purposeful storytelling but also underlines the urgent need for awareness and action around child labor and healthcare access in India.

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