Flowering Man
| Flowering Man | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Soumyajit Ghosh Dastidar |
| Written by | Soumyajit Ghosh Dastidar |
| Produced by | Film and Television Institute of India |
| Starring | Rajeev Gaursingh Tanishka Meesala |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 24 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Flowering Man is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language short film directed by Soumyajit Ghosh Dastidar and produced by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).[1] The film follows a teenage girl grappling with the transformation of her parent, portrayed through surreal imagery. It won the Best Non-Feature Film award at the 71st National Film Awards.[2]
Cast
- Rajeev Gaursingh as Shashi
- Tanishka Meesala as the daughter
Plot
Flowering Man centres on Shashi, a parent who begins to undergo a mysterious transformation in which a flowering plant grows from their mouth. The story is presented largely from the perspective of Shashi’s teenage daughter, who struggles to understand and accept the changes in her parent. Rather than depicting the transformation through direct dialogue or explanation, the narrative relies on metaphor and fragmented memories. As the story progresses, the daughter gradually confronts feelings of confusion, grief, and acceptance while attempting to reconcile the person she once knew with the parent’s evolving identity.[3]
Awards
In 2025, the film won the Best Non-Feature Film award at the 71st National Film Awards.[4][5]
See also
References
- ^ "'Lost in teleportation' and 'The Flowering Man' among FTII student films at IDSFFK". The Indian Express. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "Durgapur director wins Swarna Kamal at nat'l awards for short film on gender identity". The Times of India. 5 August 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "Flowering Man: The Emergence Of A New Language Within India's Queer Cinema". Outlook India. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "71st National Film Awards 2025 Winners List - National Film Awards". nationalfilmawards.in. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "71st National Film Awards 2025 Full List of Winners: Shah Rukh, Rani Mukerji, Vikrant Massey get Best Actor nods; 12th Fail is Best Film". The Indian Express. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2026.