Hailed as the most inspiring ‘journalism movie’ by the Washington Post, the New York Times critic pick documentary ‘Writing Iith Fire’ from India has made it to the Oscar nominations. Directed by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, the film is about India’s only Dalit women run newspaper called ‘Khabar Lahiriya’. The documentary focuses on the publication as they transition from print to digital.

The Sundance award-winning film spotlights social justice issues these women often try to advocate for. Evolving from a literacy project, the women initially started out as social activists trying to advocate for issues like broken water pumps, unpaved roads or known rapists walking free. Eventually, this led them into running a publication. 

While Indians from India have been known to win Academy Awards, this film is a first for nomination in the documentary category. One can’t help but be reminded of  two-time academy award winner Sharmin Obaid-Chinoy for her Oscar successes as she too was a first there to do so. The Academy Awards are due to air on March 27, 2022.

A hearty congratulations from Stardust for making it so far on a prestigious platform like the Oscars. May many more like you rise.