When Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh set out to make a film on a news organization led by Dalit women (Khabar Lahariya) transitioning from print to digital news-making, in the backdrop of one of India’s most complex socio-political geographies, they never anticipated the response their documentary would receive: from awards at top international film festivals and the acclaim of audiences and critics worldwide to an Oscar nomination (the first for an Indian documentary). And they certainly did not expect that after journeying with and celebrating the film for over a year, the Khabar Lahariya team would suddenly distance themselves from it.
Aseem Chhabra, film writer and festival director of New York Indian Film Festival, talks to Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh about the challenges of making Writing with Fire, their journey so far with the film, and the exciting new wave of Indian documentaries that are winning accolades and awards internationally (three are playing at this year’s DIFF).
Sat, 5 Nov | 3:00 pm | Rooftop