Goan Short Film ‘Illuminate’ by Numair Khan Selected for 15th Aarogya Film Festival in Pune
Goan filmmaker Numair Khan’s short film on eye and organ donation, Illuminate, has been officially selected for the 15th Aarogya Film Festival, which celebrates 15 years of cinema dedicated to health awareness. The film will be screened on 4 December 2026 at 1:32 PM at the NFDC – National Film Archive of India, Pune.
Directed by Numair Khan, Illuminate explores the emotional, social and ethical dimensions of eye and organ donation. The story revolves around a young man who initially struggles to accept his mother’s decision to donate her organs after death. However, an unexpected encounter with a blind child gradually transforms his outlook, helping him overcome his reservations and recognise the profound value of organ donation.
The film stars Rameez Shaikh as the protagonist and Falak Fatima Siddiqui as his wife, while Sakshi Kittur and Sarah Cabral portray the pivotal roles of the mother and the blind child, respectively. Lenin Rodrigues and Abigail Picardo appear in supporting roles, while Yaseer Beig plays a doctor. Varun Kashyap handled the editing, with Sharvi Dhond providing the voice-over. Rameez Shaikh also served as the assistant director.
Two key moments form the emotional core of the film. In one scene, the protagonist calls his wife insane for supporting organ donation, highlighting the stigma, misconceptions and resistance surrounding the subject. In contrast, his chance encounter with a blind child becomes a turning point, allowing him to see the issue through empathy and human connection. Together, these moments underline how personal encounters can challenge deeply rooted perceptions and inspire a change in attitude.
The three-day Aarogya Film Festival will be held from 3 to 5 December 2026 in Pune. An initiative of the P. M. Shah Foundation, the festival combines cinema and health awareness to educate audiences and encourage meaningful conversations around important health-related issues. Established in 2011, the festival has consistently showcased films that explore health concerns in their social and cultural contexts, using cinema as an effective medium for awareness and advocacy.
With Illuminate, Numair Khan brings attention to the importance of organ donation while demonstrating the power of storytelling in challenging social stigma and encouraging compassion. The film’s selection also adds to the growing presence of Gen Z Goan filmmakers on national and international platforms, reflecting a new generation of Goan storytellers taking their films beyond Goa and gaining recognition at prestigious film festivals across the country and abroad.
