National Award-winning director Ojaswwee Sharma addressed the Special Olympics Bharat’s “National Youth Leadership Summit 2025” in Dharampur, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The Summit, a flagship initiative of Special Olympics Bharat, brought together over 80 youth and athlete leaders from 26 State Chapters.
Aligned with the theme Educate. Engage. Empower, Ojaswwee Sharma emphasised how cinema can bridge the gap between societal perception and the real-life abilities of persons with intellectual disabilities, inspiring participants to lead with ability, agency and purpose.
His words and interaction inspired participants, including youth with intellectual disabilities, to take collective action and continue strengthening inclusive initiatives within their respective communities.
As a pioneer of inclusive cinema in India, Ojaswwee Sharma’s address drew from his extensive work in authentic representation—most notably his film Rabb Di Awaaz, India’s first and longest running multi-inclusive and multi-accessible Hindi feature film.
