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Paladin to theatrically release ‘India’s Daughter’ in US
MUMBAI: Leslee Udwin’s documentary, India’s Daughter, will be released theatrically in the US by Paladin, with openings in New York and Los Angeles on 23 and 30 October respectively.
India’s Daughter tells the story of the savage rape and eventual death of 23 year-old medical student, Jyoti Singh, in New Delhi in December of 2012, an event that shook the social fabric of the country — and the world — to the core. Udwin’s film was catapulted to global attention in March of this year when it was banned in India just two days before its scheduled broadcast.
Singh was a young physiotherapy student from a poor family in New Delhi, and a symbol of a 21 century India in which economic growth is expanding opportunity for women and men alike. With dreams of a career in medicine, she asked her parents to use her wedding dowry to pay for her education. Despite protest from the extended family, her parents willingly obliged and sold the family’s ancestral land to put her through school.
On 26 December, 2012 she went to see Life of Pi with a male friend. When they boarded a private bus to return home, the young man was beaten senseless, and Singh was dragged to the rear of the bus and repeatedly gang raped. Her assailants brutalized her as they circled the city, injuring her internal organs, and ultimately eviscerating her with an iron rod. Miraculously, she survived for 13 days before her surgeons could do no more to save her. Her tragic death raised the fury of Indian women and men alike, and New Delhi saw an explosion of public outrage that resulted in a month of unprecedented mass street protests throughout the nation, and a government crackdown with water canons and tear-gas.
In India’s Daughter, Udwin unspools the extraordinary story of Singh and her forward-thinking family, while also probing the culture of rape and the psyche of her attackers. One of the film’s most astonishing scenes is a confession by one of the perpetrators, filmed in prison, that provides crucial insight into the mindset of the men who committed the rape, and explores the wider dynamics of a patriarchal society and culture which seeds violence against women.
Following its debut in Great Britain earlier this year, and presentations at festivals and conferences throughout the world,India’s Daughter has become a source of considerable controversy, with some advocates calling it essential viewing and a film that can spark change for women in India and worldwide, while others criticise it for giving a megaphone to the rapists’ point of view, for bringing shame upon India, ignoring the Indian women’s movement, and violating the rights of both the victim and the accused. For bearing witness to the truth about rape in global society Udwin was honored as a New York Times 2015 Woman of Impact, and won the prestigious Anna Lindh Human Rights Award for her groundbreaking work in advancing the rights of women.
India’s Daughter is directed and produced by Udwin. Co-producer is Dibang and associate producers are Riddhi Jha and Frieda Pinto. Executive Producer is Nick Fraser. Editor is Anuradha Singh with original music by Krsna. Sound Designer is Resul Pookutty, CAS MPSE and story editor is Rob Ritchie. Shot on location in Delhi, India.
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
