NEW DELHI, JANUARY 16, 2026: Renowned animation filmmaker and Create in India Challenge (CIC) winner Suresh Eriyat made India proud with his film “Desi Oon”, which won the Jury Award for Best Commissioned Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025 in France.
A gold winner at the WAVES Awards of Excellence 2025 under the Create in India Challenge, the film “Desi Oon” beautifully blends Indian ethos with world-class storytelling and animation. Set against the backdrop of rural India, the film captures the lives of shepherds with authenticity and emotional depth, weaving a powerful narrative about tradition, resilience, and identity.
Reflecting on the achievement, Suresh Eriyat shared, “It’s a huge honour to win at Annecy. It’s a rare achievement for an Indian film, and we are very happy to bring this award home to India. “Desi Oon” was one of the gold winners at WAVES, and it really inspired the whole moment of the Create an India challenge.”
Eriyat and his team spent a good time studying the lives of shepherds to authentically portray their story on screen. “We wanted to truly understand their world, their landscapes, rhythms, and way of life, to ensure that every frame felt real,” he added.
The win at Annecy follows a series of recognitions for “Desi Oon”, including a shortlisting at Cannes Lions 2025 and awards at Good Ads Matter, AICP Show, and Kyoorius Creative Awards.
Eriyat’s journey is a shining example of how the Create in India Challenge, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s WAVES Initiative, is empowering Indian creators to take their stories to the world, proving that when homegrown stories are told with heart and creativity, they can resonate far beyond borders.
Oon” means wool, and “Desi Oon” refers to the traditional wool obtained from indigenous Deccani black sheep found mainly in Karnataka and southern Maharashtra, as well as in parts of Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The film has been created by Suresh Eriyat’s Studio Eeksaurus.
As Eriyat notes, “These awards and accolades really help the message garner more momentum. I hope more Indian filmmakers make their presence felt on global platforms with films created in this country and for this country.”
