The award ceremony for the national edition of the 12th Laadli Media & Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity (NLMAAGS) was held at the prestigious Tata Theatre, NCPA, on Tuesday the 29th of November. Noteworthy work in journalism, advertising, films, television, theatre, and books was felicitated at the function which was returning after a gap of two years as an on-ground event. Mr. Arne Jan Flølo, Honorable Consul General of Norway in Mumbai and Ms. Andrea Wojnar, Country Representative, UNFPA India, were the guests of honour. Noted film personality Nandita Das was the chief guest. It was attended by a glittering ensemble of stellar personalities. The initiative was once again supported by UNFPA and the Norwegian Embassy in India.
“It is twenty years since Population First was established and 15 years since we launched Laadli. There has been a shift in the media, though a small one. We are today acutely aware and are open to speaking about reporting on gender issues and gender equality in media organizations,” said Bobby Sista, Founder, and Executive trustee, Population First.
Each year the National Awards recognize pioneering change-makers who through the dint of their persistent work and vision have called out the structures that resist gender equality. This year for the Laadli Of The Century award, we salute a “gentle revolutionary”, Ela Ramesh Bhatt who passed away on November 2nd. She is being presented the award posthumously for impacting the lives of thousands of women, for giving us a working model of women’s empowerment, and for initiating the women’s cooperative movement in India. The Laadli Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Indira Jaising for ardently advocating for social justice and women’s rights, while the Laadli Gender Champion Award which was instituted in memory of the triumvirate of the Indian Feminist Movement, Gail Omvedt, Kamla Bhasin, and Sonal Shukla was presented to Advocate Varsha Deshpande, who has been courageously working to save and protect the girl child through judicious implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 2002. Kausar Munir was presented the Laadli Woman Behind the Screen Award for stepping into hitherto a male bastion in the film industry and establishing an undeniable place for herself as a poet, lyricist, and dialogue writer. For her undeniable contribution to the world of theatre, Rohini Hattangadi was presented with the award for Theatre.
“Achieving gender balance in media reporting is working towards achieving gender equality in society. The Laadli Media & Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity recognizes this need and the work that both female and male journalists contribute to a more gender-equal society,” noted the Consul General of Norway, Arne Jan Flølo.
“UNFPA strives to address discriminatory practices that impede gender equality. We understand that women and their issues are not on parity with men in the media or in the newsroom. This encouraged us to support the Laadli campaign, which has over the years, motivated communication professionals to portray men and women/ boys and girls in gender-diverse roles; It has ensured that sufficient space is given for women-centric stories and encouraged communication professionals to analyze every story from a gender lens.” noted Andrea Wojnar, Resident Representative – UNFPA India, UNFPA India while commending the work done by Laadli Media Awards and all the winners.
“Media has both reach and influence. It has the power to bring gender equality into political agendas and policies and play the role of a watchdog to ensure that programmes and schemes are implemented with sensitivity. The award winners show what sensitive and committed media is,” said Dr. A.L.Sharada, Director Population First.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi was felicitated in the theatrical release, Hindi category, while Gargi was recognized as a Regional theatrical release. Sherni directed by Amit Masurkar was awarded in the OTT category. Porgai (Pride): A Film On The Revival Of Lambadi Art was awarded as a documentary. The award for web series was presented to Delhi Crime Season 2 for spotlighting the grit of the two fearless women who stand undeterred in the face of crime, political nexus, and patriarchal systems.
A motley of advertisements was recognized for its gender-sensitive portrayals and these include BBDO INDIA’s WHEN WE #SEEEQUAL, WE #SHARETHELOAD for ARIEl, SHREYANSH INNOVATIONS #KanyaMaan for MANYAVAR MOHEY, OGILVY’s THE TALE OF 2 LAJJOS for PROJECT NANHI KALI, BBDO INDIA’s THE STORY OF SUSHILA for P&G SHIKSHA, COCONUT FILMS’ HOME for ROYAL ENFIELD, LOWE LINTAS Delhi’s Manjha GOOGLE INDIA, DDB MUDRA’s IT’S JUST A PERIOD for STAYFREE, DJANGO DIGITAL’s MY STORY. PERIOD for LEMME BE!, and DENTSU WEBCHUTNEY’s ‘The ‘Marriage Conversations’ for Tanishq
This year four books were recognized for their gender-nuanced content. SHORMISTHA MUKHERJEE’s autobiography CANCER YOU PICKED THE WRONG GIRL, MANJIMA BHATTACHARJYA’s NON-FICTION INTIMATE CITY, and JOOPAKA SUBHADRA’s fiction translated from Telugu, HOW ARE YOU VEG: DALIT STORIES FROM TELUGU were the winners from English, while, SUMITRA MEHROL’s autobiography TUTE PANKHON SE PARWAJ TAK won for Hindi.
Thirteen journalists from amongst the regional winners were selected to receive the national accolade for their work and included Raksha Kumar for ‘From Debt To Depression, The Pandemic Has Hit India’s Sex Workers Hard’ in The Hindu, Priyanka Sahoo for Print News Report in English, ‘Isolated, Invisible: LGBTQ Scientists Talk About Their Experience At Workplace’ in The Hindustan, Namrata Zakaria, ‘Bikini Bottoms, Catsuits, Hijabs, Unitards—Sportswear For Women Is A Political Quagmire’ In Times Of India, Amulya B for, ‘Devadasi Woman Wins Panchayat Election’ in Deccan Herald-Youtube.Com, Suryatapa Mukherjee for ‘Queer Kashmiris Are Building Community Amidst Conflict’ In Sunoindia, Jisha Surya for ‘How Kerala Is A Long Way Off In Gender Affirmative Healthcare For Trans Persons’ In Behanbox.Com, The Swaddle-Youtube.com for ‘In Perspective’ in The Swaddle-Youtube.Com, Maitry Dave for her Column in Gujarati, ‘Cover Story’ In Naari Supplements in Sandesh, Preeti Agyaat for ‘Ek Chitthi, Is Duniya Ki Har Aayesha Ke Naam! in Preetiagyaat.Blogspot.Com, in Saam TV, Daya Sagar & Neetu Singh for ‘Unnao Case: Kya Sach Mein Khule Se Shauch Mukt Ho Chuka Hai Bharat? Unnao Case Mein Ek Mrtaka Ke Ghar Mein Nahin Hai Shauchaalay!’ in Gaonconnection.Com, and Surekha Abburi for ‘Aksharalu Raakapoyina, Tama Cheti Vanta Ne Jeevinadharanga Marchukunna Ontari Mahilala Kadhe Luqma’ in BBC Telugu
Arpana Rao, the acclaimed Kathak artist & her students of AMNA – the Arpana Mahuaa Nritya Academy, young Govandi Gully Girl, rapper Saniya MQ, and the Sufi music exponent Pooja Gaitonde regaled the audience with their scintillating performances at the awards function which was hosted by Meher Acharya Dar, actor, and a well-known media person.
