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Soumya Jyoti Pratihari wins UKAFF Award
The award-winning documentary explores identity, migration, and artistic expression through the life of Odia artist Prafulla Mohanti.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 19, May 2026
- 17:37 EDT
- 29
Soumya Jyoti Pratihari receiving the award / Facebook/ UK Asian Film Festival
India-born filmmaker Soumya Jyoti Pratihari has won the Tongues on Fire Flame Award for Best LGBTQIA+ Film at the UK Asian Film Festival for his documentary Shunya: Being Prafulla Mohanti.
The award was announced days after the film’s world premiere at Riverside Studios in London on May 6. According to festival organizers, the documentary was recognized for its “honesty, artistry, and humanity” in portraying themes of identity, truth, and self-expression.
Also Read: Documentary sheds light on life of British-Indian artist
The documentary chronicles the life of veteran Odia artist, writer, architect, and cultural thinker Prafulla Mohanti, whose work has explored identity, migration, spirituality, and human connection over several decades. The title Shunya draws from the philosophical concept of emptiness and infinity, recurring themes in Mohanti’s paintings and writings.
Congratulations to India-born filmmaker Soumya Jyoti Pratihari on winning the Tongues on Fire Flame Award at the UK Asian Film Festival.
— UK in India (@UKinIndia) May 19, 2026
Pratihari’s documentary on Odia artist Prafulla Mohanti was recognised as the Best LGBTQIA+ film.
: Shunya The Film pic.twitter.com/vp9pFYYhvh
Pratihari, an alumnus of Goldsmiths, University of London, reportedly spent nearly five years working closely with Mohanti, while the film itself was developed over seven years. The extended collaboration gave the documentary an intimate and reflective tone, blending archival footage, interviews, and personal moments from Mohanti’s life.
The film traces Mohanti’s journey from a village in Odisha to Mumbai’s J J School of Art and later to England, where he worked as an architect and town planner before dedicating himself fully to painting and literature. It also explores the racism and isolation he experienced after moving to Britain, including a violent racist attack in London that became a turning point in his artistic journey.
Produced by Prodeepta Das, the documentary also highlights Mohanti’s work with his late partner Derek Moore in encouraging creativity among children and women in his native village through workshops in art, dance, and storytelling.
The UK in India official account congratulated Pratihari on the win.The UK Asian Film Festival is among Europe’s prominent South Asian film festivals and is known for showcasing independent cinema and diaspora storytelling.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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