THE CORE ANTICLOCK TEAM
ONIR
(Director and Producer)
Born: 30th April 1969, Samchi, Bhutan. Onir directed and produced his first Documentary Film on painter Bijon Chaudhury "Fallen Hero" in 1992. In 1999 he worked as the film editor, song designer, and song director of the film “Daman” directed by Kalpana Lajmi. In 2004 with Sanjay Suri, Onir decided to produce his first film “My brother…Nikhil
” which was to become the first mainstream that addressed the issue of homosexuality apart from dealing with issues of Human rights and HIV AIDS. In Jan 2006 he started shooting his second feature film “Bas Ek Pal” with Juhi Chawla, Urmila Matondkar, Jimmy Sheirgill, Rehaan Engineer and Sanjay Suri. In 2007 he started his third film “Sorry Bhai!” under his and Sanjay’s home production ANTICLOCK FILMS. starred Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani, Sanjay Suri, Chitrangda Singh and Boman Irani. In 2009, Anticlock Films started the unique citizen funded film project called ‘I AM’ which was Onir’s fourth feature film. The film had four stories which are interlinked by characters and shot across four cities in India. The films deal with stories that have never been addressed by mainstream Hindi cinema. The funds for the films have been through facebook and blogging. I AM is probably the first and largest crowd sourced film through social network in India. Over 400 people across 47cities across the world have come together to make this film. I AM was released to wide critical acclaim on 29th April 2011. I AM won the National Award for The Best Hindi Feature film Award 2011
Produced film CHAURANGA(Four Colours) which won the Incredible India Award as the best script at the Goa film Bazaar, International film festival of India. Also won the Best film India Gold at MAMI (Mumbai International Film festival) and IFFLA ( LA). This film is about Class conflict set in rural India and directed by Debutant Director Bikas Mishra. (the script was also a part of Berlin Talent campus 2010) The film was releasedin Jan 2016
Feature length documentary “Raising the Bar”, an indo Australian documentary featuring the lives of 6 children and young people living with down syndrom premiered at the Melbourne Indian Film Festival in 2016
SHAB (The Night) directed by Onir released in 2017. Apart from Raveena Tandon , the film introduced Arpita Chatterjee, Ashish Bisht and French actor Simon Frenay. Premiered at New York Indian film Festival, Screened at Melbourne Indian Film Festival, Sydney Indian Film Festival, Florence River to River Indian film festival, and Stuttgard Indian Film Festival. His 6th Feature film as director “ Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz” (Rain Soaked Words) released in Februrary 2018. The film will have its Festival premiere at The London South Asian Film Festival in march 2018. In 2018 he received Likho Award (Trailblazer Award)
A short documentary film about the “unwanted” mothers … who try and seek solace in pursuit of divine love. This documentary ‘Widows of Vrindavan’ portraits the lives of four widows living at Maitri Ghar (House), Their journey to Vrindavan, their childhood, their crushed dreams and what keeps them alive now. Widows of Vrindavan is a film about these widows trying to find dignity and hope as they await death. This Documentary was premiered at Indisches Film Festival Stuttgart in 2019. Onir has received the Diversity Award from Film Victoria Australia and La Trobe University at Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne 2019
Onir received the Engendered Spirit Of Independent Cinema Award 2020 at The Engendered Human Rights Film Festival in Delhi. Onir also featured in a “Schau mir in die Augen, Kleiner” Directed by Andre’ Schafer and premiered at the BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL¬¬¬
International Awards & Screenings
“My Brother Nikhil“, drama, written & directed by Onir, India 2005
Awards:
Winner Jury Award , Montreal (Image+ Nation film festival)
Winner Audience Choice Award , Montreal (Image+ Nation film festival)
Winner Audience Choice Award 20th Milan International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival -June, 2006)
Winner “The Mobilization and Critical Resistance” Award – ICASA 2005 Film- ABUJA, NIGERIA
Winner Audience Choice Award, Leceister (UK)
Winner Best Director at The Saathi Rainbow Film Awards , Kolkatta
Winner Best Actor , at The Saathi Rainbow Film Awards , Purab Kohli ,Kolkatta
Winner TMG Global Awards 2006, Sanjay Suri Actor/Producer
Winner TMG Global Awards 2006, Onir Director/Producer
2nd Audience Choice Award, Hamburg LGBT film festival
2nd Audience Choice Award, Bremen LGBT film festival
“I AM”, four episodes drama, written by Onir, Urmi Juvekar & Merle Kroeger, directed by
Onir, India 2011
Awards:
NATIONAL AWARD BEST HINDI FEATURE FILM 2011
Winner – Best Director – Jagran Film Festival - 2011
Winner – Best Film – London Asian Film Festival
Winner – Best Actress - London Asian Film Festival
NETPAC Award – Best in Asian Cinema – IFFK 2010
Special Mention – International Jury – IFFK 2010
Winner - Best Narrative Feature – KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, 2011
Winner - Audience Choice Award – Best Film – River to River Film Festival, Florence, 2010
Winner – Engendered Award for Outstanding Contribution – I-VIEW, 2010
TRIANGLE MEDIA GROUP’S DAVID FLINT HONORARY AWARD for Promoting Human Rights - The
Triangle Media Group Winner - Biennial Global Awards for MEDIA FOR SOCAL JUSTICE. Received an award from the Lord Mayor of Nottingham Jeannie Packer and the Rt Hon. Vernon Coaker MP Minister for Schools and Learners. RASINIG THE BAR 2016 (DOCUMENTARY)
Spotlight Documentary Film Festival 2016 Silver Award Winner
Hollywood Independent Documentary Award 2016 Winner
Best feature Documentary-Jury 8th Dadasheb Film Festival 2018
Best Documentary Melbourne City Independent Film Award 2018
KUCHH BHEEGE ALFAAZ
Audience Choice Award 9th Jagran Film festival Mumbai 2018
In 2018 he received Likho Award (Trailblazer Award)
Onir has received the Diversity Award from Film Victoria Australia and La Trobe University at Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne 2019
