Film based on women’s rights activist wins a short film award

Published 13 June 2026 · local

Riha, a 30-minute short film inspired by the life of triple talaq activist Zakia Soman, has won Best Short Film — Hindi at the Zee

Riha, a 30-minute short film inspired by the life of triple talaq activist Zakia Soman, has won Best Short Film — Hindi at the Zee Short Film Awards 2026, held recently in Mumbai.

Zakia Soman is a women’s rights activist and the founder of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, a non-governmental women’s rights organization. Selected from over 12,000 entries across India, including nearly

7,000 Hindi films, Riha received the award from filmmaker and jury member Anurag Kashyap, who called it “literally a perfect 10.” Directed by self-taught filmmaker Arastu Zakia, Riha follows

a woman trapped in an abusive marriage who encounters a triple talaq survivor. The film is a tribute to Zakia Soman and the resilience of women fighting for freedom and dignity.

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