Directed by Rintu Thomas, Sushmit Ghosh
India/Hindi with subtitles
2021
93 min

In a cluttered news landscape dominated by men emerges India’s only newspaper run by Dalit women. With smartphones, they break traditions on the frontlines of India’s biggest issues and within the confines of their homes, redefining what it is to be powerful.

Investigative reporter Meera emerges as a central character in this triumphant documentary — one of the fearless founders of the online newspaper, Khabar Lahariya. The newspaper and its online YouTube channel are dedicated to uncovering abuses of government malfeasance, patriarchy, and the rampant gender and caste violence that victimizes the voiceless and the powerless in India.

Director-producers Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh produce films that have the power to create transformative social impact. They are invested in the power of nonfiction storytelling, with a strong eye on social justice stories. Rintu and Sushmit were recognized for their filmmaking work with a President’s Medal in 2012, the highest honor given to filmmakers in India. Five years in the making, Writing With Fire is their first feature documentary.

Includes a post-screening discussion with director Rintu Thomas, and a panel discussion with Christina Thomas Dhanaraj and Yashica Dutt and Preeti Gamzeh.

Winner Audience Award, World Cinema Documentary, Sundance Film Festival 2021

Winner Special Jury Award: Impact for Change, Sundance Film Festival 2021

“Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh’s debut feature follows the brave journalists of India’s only women-run newspaper, blending the personal and professional with a deft touch.” – Indiewire

“Rousing, inspirational tribute to the pride of grassroots Indian journalism.” – Variety