Short film Razaa, written and directed by Pooja Tolani, known for penning scripts for Sacred Games (2019), Lust Stories 2 (The Mirror segment, 2023) and more recently Maa Behen (2026), has won the Best Debut Director Award at the 18th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026.
On the same night, the film received the Best First Time Director Award in Short Encounters International Film Festival 2026 in Greece.
Featuring Geetanjali Kulkarni and Bhumika Sharma, Razaa is set over the course of a tense afternoon in a gynaecologist's waiting room and features an 18-year-old girl, the titular Razaa, and her mother as they confront a life-altering decision.
Reacting to the double win, Pooja said: “Razaa explores the complicated relationship women have with their own agency and the incredible value of female solidarity and sisterhood. And this sisterhood was a blessing during the making of the film too – with a majority of the team being women. It is incredibly meaningful to receive this recognition of my directorial debut at MIFF and Short Encounters – and on the same night.”
The film has been produced by Maa Behen director Suresh Triveni and Radhika Sawhney.