A Tamil documentary chronicling a mother’s support for her trans daughter’s pioneering marriage in Tamil Nadu was long listed for the academy awards and India’s sole trans-led project in that category.
“Amma’s Pride”, a poignant 21-minute Tamil documentary short directed by filmmaker Shiva Krish, India’s only trans-led entry long listed in the Documentary Short Subject category for the 98th Academy Awards. Although the project did not advance to the short list, its accomplishments are noteworthy.
The film chronicles mother Valli’s unwavering support for her transgender daughter Srija, who pursued love and became part of Tamil Nadu’s first legally registered transgender marriage to Arun Kumar, facing societal stigma, and legal hurdles along the way.
Winning the ‘Best Short Documentary’ award at the IDSFFK 2025 qualified the film to the Oscars. Shiva Krish stresses that true allyship begins at home, Valli calls for parental acceptance of trans children, and the film has garnered over 60 global screenings plus 275,000 online views through campaigns like “Path to Pride”, marking a milestone for queer Indian cinema.
Valli’s Transformative Journey of Love and Advocacy
At the heart of Amma’s Pride is the relationship between Srija and her mother, Valli, shaped by love, resilience, and quiet courage. The film traces Valli’s journey as a single mother who stands unwaveringly beside her trans daughter, navigating social stigma, institutional barriers, and everyday acts of exclusion with dignity and resolve. The film foregrounds sustained parental support, interdependence, and the strength it takes to live truthfully in a society that often refuses to listen.
Valli reflects powerfully on camera: “Parents should support their trans children from the start. I will have the greatest satisfaction when loving and accepting them becomes the norm across families.”
This raw testimony, woven with home videos and candid interviews, humanises the narrative, revealing not just pain but resilience and joy in Srija’s relationship with Arun. India’s 2011 census recorded over 4.8 lakh transgender individuals, yet trans-led stories from the country remain exceedingly rare, often overshadowed by mainstream narratives.
The film’s unfiltered portrayal blending tears, laughter, and triumphs transforms statistics into lived realities, spotlighting how one family’s bond challenges deep-rooted prejudices and inspires viewers to reconsider acceptance.
Trailblazing Path from Festivals to Oscar Spotlight
“Amma’s Pride” embarked on its remarkable journey with a premiere in May 2024, quickly amassing international acclaim through over 60 screenings worldwide, from LGBTQIA+ film festivals and law schools to even remote locations like Antarctica via specialised groups.
Key accolades include the Best Short Documentary at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), the Jen Lynn Award at Hobnobben Festival, and the Sher Vancouver Award, propelling it toward Oscar contention.
Post-qualification buzz surged on social media, with Instagram campaigns like “For Your Consideration” and panels in New Delhi alongside organisations such as the Naz Foundation amplifying discussions on trans rights, marriage equality, and family dynamics.Even though Amma’s Pride didn’t make the Oscar shortlists, the incredible momentum they’ve built is opening doors for more screenings and deeper community engagement in India and the USA throughout 2026
This entry builds on Shiva Krish’s prior work in social-issue storytelling, developed in collaboration with non-profits and marginalised communities, and positions India alongside Global South voices gaining traction at the Oscars.
It also followed in the footsteps of other Indian hopefuls in recent years, yet stood uniquely as a beacon for trans narratives, reshaping perceptions without diluting its intimate, community-rooted focus and reaching 275,000 online viewers through the “Path to Pride” initiative.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This Oscar qualification is more than a cinematic milestone; it exemplifies empathy as a quiet yet powerful revolution, where Valli’s boundless kindness and support for Srija cultivate harmony in the face of entrenched prejudice, perfectly embodying our unwavering commitment to peace, dialogue, kindness, empathy, harmony, and coexistence.
By centring trans joy, love, and legal victories like Tamil Nadu’s pioneering marriage registration, the film dismantles stereotypes and urges society to foster inclusive spaces that nurture diverse identities, driving tangible social change through storytelling that bridges generational and cultural divides. It reminds us that positive transformation often starts within families, challenging us all to amplify underrepresented voices in media and policy.
