Writing With Fire

The world of female journalism in India is wonderfully explored in Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh’s Oscar-nominated documentary.

A worthy Oscar contender earlier this year, Writing with Fire is a first feature by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh. They are well and truly at the heart of this venture being not only its joint directors but also sharing further credits as the film’s producers and editors while the photography is by Ghosh and Karan Thapliyal. They have undoubtedly done a very good job, yet what absolutely stands out here is less the filmmaking than the sheer appeal of the material. Writing with Fire is the story of an Indian newspaper, Khabar Lahariya which was set up in Uttar Pradesh. The fact that it is run by women means that the film has the immediate attraction which comes from showing a striking enterprise which proves that women can do a great job in this sphere. However, there is even more to it than that because the women running the paper are all Dalits who are regarded as the lowest of the low in India’s caste system and that gives their achievement another layer of significance.

It follows that Writing with Fire, a project developed over some years starting in 2016, is a portrait of individuals proving themselves twice over, as women able to make a success of Khabar Lahariya and as Dalits whose skills confirm that there is no reason for Dalits to be looked down upon. It is by putting us in the company of these women and showing something of what they have achieved over the years that Writing with Fire works so well. It feels unforced in conveying this and the women who become the film’s leading figures are enormously engaging.

Judged as filmmaking, this documentary does sometimes feel haphazard. The splendid Meera Devi is the most central figure here being chief reporter and we do get glimpses of her home life and learn something of her past history. Her husband allows her to do this work but seems somewhat doubtful about its worth as he questions the chances of its continuing success. Others employed in this enterprise (among them Shyamkali Devi and Suneeta Prajapati) also feature quite prominently and in Suneeta’s case we see how she becomes conflicted between continuing the work which she regards as important and opting to marry (for not to do so would be to let down the expectations of her family). We do get to know these women, but the film does keep jumping back and forth between them. In much the same way we see snippets relating to various issues taken up by the paper. Although these episodes come and go, the examples touched on do give a clear picture of what the paper stands for in promoting social justice. One example reveals how local mafia are illegally running mines in conditions that can cause deaths but largely go unchallenged. Even more significantly, stress is laid on help given by Khabar Lahariya to achieve justice for women in a country where in rape cases it is the victim who is regarded as dishonoured rather than the rapist. We see also how in cases like this the police all too readily fail to investigate properly.

In addition, Writing with Fire moves ever more into political territory by touching on local and national elections which only serve to confirm how the promises of reform by the Bharatiya Janata party remain unfulfilled despite Modi’s success in being elected Prime Minister. Nevertheless, the film shows Khabar Lahariya learning to go digital and records how fresh media outlets obtained for it are drawing more followers and increasing its influence. For Meera Devi and her colleagues that is well deserved and audiences viewing this film will embrace their courage and determination and will applaud them wholeheartedly.

MANSEL STIMPSON

Featuring  Meera Devi, Suneeta Prajapati, Shyamkali Devi.

Dir Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, Pro Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, Ph Sushmit Ghosh and Karan Thapliyal, Ed Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas, Music Tajdar Junaid.

Black Ticket Films.
94 mins. India/USA/Finland/Canada/The Netherlands/Norway/Denmark. 2021. US Rel: 26 November 2021. UK Rel: 8 March 2022. No Cert.