Gayatri and Rajesh R. Pednekar won the Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction/Compilation Film Award for their documentary film Aanakhi Ek Mohenjo Daro (2022) at the recent 70th National Film Awards. Directed by renowned Goan filmmaker Ashok Rane, the film documents the rise and fall of the Girangaon mill workers civilisation
In a significant win for Goa’s growing film industry, producers Gayatri and Rajesh R. Pednekar’s documentary film Aanakhi Ek Mohenjo Daro (Yet Another Mohenjo Daro) bagged the Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction/Compilation Film Award at the recent 70th National Film Awards.
Directed by eminent Goan filmmaker Ashok Rane and produced by the Pednekars’ Goa-based production house ‘de Goan Studio’, the documentary, which explores historical themes, was honoured with the prestigious Rajat Kamal (silver lotus) Award in the non-feature film category. 
“We are incredibly honoured to win our third National Award, and we couldn’t be more proud to have achieved it for this film. Aanakhi Ek Mohenjo Daro documents the rise and fall of glorious Girangaon (village of mills) – a civilisation of around 130 textile mills that flourished in the Lalbag-Parel area in Mumbai at the turn of the 20th century, and enriched the city with their cultural, social and political identity,” said Rajesh R. Pednekar.
Aanakhi Ek Mohenjo Daro (2022) documents the contribution of the mill workers of Girangaon to the social and cultural fabric of the city of Mumbai. The mill workers hailed from various parts of India and different walks of life, displayed a sense of community that is a reflection of the real India. Unfortunately, this civilisation rapidly declined post the great Bombay textile strike of 1982, which witnessed the rise of the bureaucracy.
The documentary film also recently bagged the ‘Best Documentary Audience Award’ at the Indo-German FilmWeek Festival in Berlin.
Under the banner of ‘de Goan Studio’, Gayatri and Rajesh R. Pednekar, the latter who is a multifaceted actor, producer, cricketer and Vaastu specialist, has also produced the National Award-winning films K Sera Sera – Ghodpachem Ghoddtelem (2016) and Kaajro (2019).
This is also director and film critic Ashok Rane’s fourth National Award. He has directed documentaries on renowned Goan musicians Dattaram Wadkar and Anthony Gonsalves, and previously won three National Awards for Best Writing on Cinema.
