Netflix's India Original series "Delhi Crime", helmed by Indian-Canadian director Richie Mehta, has bagged the best drama series honour at the 48th International Emmy Awards.
Told from the perspective of the Delhi Police team investigating the crime that made global headlines, the series deconstructs the case of the 23-year-old physiotherapy intern who was abducted and gang-raped in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, before she was abandoned on a Delhi road.
Her injuries were so grievous that she died in a Singapore hospital a fortnight later.
Mehta, in his acceptance speech during the virtual ceremony on Monday, dedicated the honour to all the women who not just endure violence that men inflict on them, "but are also tasked to solve the problem." Actor Shefali Shah played Vartika Chaturvedi, whose character on "Delhi Crime" was based on former Delhi Police DCP Chaya Sharma who cracked the case of the brutal gangrape within 72 hours.
The show, released in 2019, received massive acclaim for its sensitive retelling of a horrific crime that shook the entire nation.
Performances by its ensemble cast, including Shah, Rasika Dugal, Adil Hussain and Rajesh Tailang were particularly appreciated.
Hussain took to Twitter and congratulated the entire team for the win.
"Delhi Crime wins the Emmy International Awards for Best Drama. Congratulations @RichieMehta unmatchable @ShefaliShah dearest @rajeshtailang and whole team Big Big Congratulations," he tweeted.
Two other Emmy nominations from India included Amazon Prime Video's "Four More Shots" and Arjun Mathur for his role in drama "Made in Heaven" in the best comedy and actor categories respectively. Both couldn't register wins.
While "Four More Shots", created by Rangita Pritish Nandy, lost to Brazil's "Ninguem ta Olhando" (Nobody's Looking), Mathur lost to 13-year-old Billy Barratt for his role in UK's "Responsible Child".
"Responsible Child" also bagged the Best TV Movie / Mini-Series award. Directed by Nick Holt, the movie follows the story of a 12-year-old boy and his experience of the UK legal system that puts him on trial for murder.
Glenda Jackson, 84, bagged the best actress award for her role in "Elizabeth is Missing".
"For Sama" won the best documentary award.
The film is narrated and directed by Waad Al-Kateab along with Edward Watts. "For Sama" focuses on Al-Kateab's journey as a journalist and rebel in the Syrian uprising.
The Non-English Language US Primetime Program category saw a tie, with "20th Annual Latin Grammy Awards" and "La Reina del Sur" season two bagging the honour.
The Short Form Series award was bagged by "#martyisdead" from the Czech Republic while "Old People's Home for 4-Year-Olds" from Australia took home the award in Non-Scripted Entertainment category.
Brazil's "Orphans of a Nation" won the top honour in the Telenovela category.
Last year, Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer "McMafia" won the best drama series award at the International Emmy Awards.
Actor Richard Kind hosted the ceremony from New York.
