SON RISE is filmed in the strongly patriarchal state of Haryana, bordering India’s capital, New Delhi. Illegal, yet rampant female foeticide has led to the eerie absence of girls in hundreds of villages. This skewed sex-ratio has provoked an unprecedented number of crimes against women.

Yet, it is is from these unlikeliest corners, the filmmaker finds ordinary men who are doing the ‘extraordinary’ to break the shackles of patriarchy and challenge the age old tradition of male dominance. And perhaps, for the first time in their lives, are realising their greatest fight is with other men, whom they will have to combat at every step of the way.

From a forward thinking village chief fighting for women to enter the male-dominated arena of local politics – to a farmer who, in an arranged marriage, defies society by marrying a gang rape survivor. Can these glimmers of a changing paradigm in SON RISE be the rays of hope we have been looking for?

SON RISE - Winner of the prestigious 66th National Film Awards (2019) BEST FILM (non-feature) and BEST EDITING (non-feature) awarded by the President of India. This is the highest honor in Indian cinema. The documentary film is now being showcased as part of the United Nations global HeForShe movement.