‘Writing with Fire’ documentary wins Peabody Award in US

NEW DELHI: Documentary film, “Writing with Fire”, is a winner at the 83rd Peabody Awards. The film, made by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, maps the story of Khabar Lahariya, an all-women team engaged in “grassroots, feminist & independent” journalism in parts of rural Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

“Their passion and bravery in the face of gender and class bias drive this beautifully shot documentary from directors Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh,” the Peabody website announced on Tuesday. “A Peabody Award is coming home. Grateful, grateful,” posted Thomas. Last month she had tweeted, “This film, for me, has been a journey, a conversation and a reflection.”

The 94-minute film has won multiple awards at major global film festivals.

Established in 1940 by the National Association of Broadcasters in the USA, the stories of Peabody winners “powerfully reflect the pressing social issues and the vibrant emerging voices of our day,” the organisation’s website says. “Writing with Fire” had also been nominated for an Academy Award in 2022. On its website Khabar Lahariya had described the film as “a moving and powerful document” but also pointed out that “it is a story which captures a part of ours, and part stories have a way of distorting the whole sometimes.”

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