Writing with Fire
Writing with Fire is a 2021 Indian documentary film directed by filmmakers Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas about the journalists running the Dalit women led newspaper "Khabar Lahariya," as they shift from 14-years of print to digital journalism using smartphones. It is the first Indian feature documentary to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Produced under Ghosh and Thomas' Black Ticket Films banner, the film had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where it won two awards, the Audience Award and a Special Jury Award in the World Cinema  Documentary category. It received unanimous acclaim from film festivals and critics, winning several international awards and critical acclaim from the press. It was named a "Critics Pick" by "The New York Times", and Jason Rezaian at "The Washington Post" called it "the most inspiring journalism movie — maybe ever". Plot. "Writing with Fire" tells the story of "Khabar Lahariya", the only news agency in India run by Dalit (oppressed-caste) women. Armed with smartphones, these women journalists report from some of the most difficult regions of the country, risking everything to speak truth to power. Led by Chief Reporter Meera and  her feisty understudy, crime reporter Suneeta, the film bears witness to wit, intelligence and compassion of these journalists in confronting the most urgent stories of our times. Set in the backdrop of an increasingly polarized world, "Writing with Fire" journeys with Meera and her band of sisters for five years - as they break traditions on the frontlines of India's biggest issues and within the conﬁnes of their homes, redeﬁning what it truly means to be powerful. Reception. Critical reception. The film has garnered a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics based on 46 reviews, with an average rating  of 8.40/10. The site's critical consensus reads, ""Writing with Fire" pays stirring tribute to the power of journalism -- and presents a chilling glimpse of the forces aligned against it." Jessica Kiang from "Variety" reviewed the film as a "rousing, inspirational tribute to the pride of grassroots Indian journalism". Inkoo Kang at "The Hollywood Reporter" called the film "insightful and inspirational". while Kate Erbland at IndieWire reviewed it "profound". The "Los Angeles Times" called the film "a vital, stimulating dispatch from the frontlines of consequential citizen journalism" while the "San Francisco Chronicle", giving the film a 5-star review, said  even Woodward and Bernstein would be inspired by the women reporters of India's Writing with Fire"". Reception by "Khabar Lahariya" journalists. The film and its impact were initially received positively by Kavita Devi, the co-founder of "Khabar Lahariya", and various team members appeared with the film at festivals. Over a year later, once the film was nominated for an Academy Award, the organisation issued a statement criticising the film for presenting a simplified, incomplete profile of their work and "consuming focus of reporting on one party", which NPR identified as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India's national  ruling party. Srishti Mehra, outreach manager at Chambal Media, claimed that this "misrepresentation" could negatively affect the security and reputation of "Khabar Lahariya" and its journalists. Accolades. Following its release, "Writing with Fire" was showcased at numerous film festivals and won several awards, including the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award: Impact for Change and the World Cinema Documentary Competition Audience Award at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. In December 2021, it was announced that the film had entered the shortlist of candidates for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in the 94th Academy Awards in 2022, and the  next February it was announced that it had been nominated in this category.