It is a proud moment for Indian cinema yet again, as an Indian movie came in the eyes of the International film industry. “Country of Blind” is now being invited by the Oscar Library to be a part of the permanent collection at the Library of the Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. The film, which features a story about the ‘sightless’ and their lives, has been directed by Rahat Shah Kazmi with actress Hina Khan in the lead. It was invited by the Oscar Library and soon it was screened in the USA.
An elated Hina quipped, “Our team has worked really hard on this film, and there is nothing better than it being recognised at such a large scale. Right from people in the US loving the story we told through Country of Blind, to our screenplay being invited by the Oscar Library of the Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, it all feels surreal. I am hoping that we achieve even greater heights with our film, as the story is an entire experience that people will get to live while watching it.”
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About The Film
Based on a novel by HG Wells, ‘Country of Blind’ is a satirical drama about a community thriving in isolation. The film is entirely shot in Kashmir and also features local artists including Hina Khan, Mir Sarwar, Shoib Nikash Shah, Anushka Sen, Inaamulhaq, and Pradhuman Singh. The film, which is shot in both English and Hindi languages, is poised to be a cinematic gem that transcends borders and touches the hearts of viewers.
Meet The Director
After making critically acclaimed films including Lihaaf, Mantostaan and Identity Card, director Rahat Kazmi, who hails from Surankote Poonch, came out with “Country of Blind”. On this celebratory occasion, he said, “I am happy that the vision I had for this film is being appreciated so widely. ‘Country of Blind’ being accepted by the audience in the US and the screenplay now being invited by the Academy’s Library of the Motion Pictures and Sciences, is a huge feat for our entire team.”
He further hopes that they achieve everything that the film deserves because right from the story to the way it’s shot, everything about ‘Country of Blind’ is beautiful. “The majestic Himalayas serve as the setting for this historical drama. The movie was in filmed Doodhpathri, Sonamarg, and Gulmarg. A portion of the film was also filmed in Sanasar in Jammu,” Kazmi said.
International Reception
While the makers expect a huge response from the film, it has already garnered an enormous response on the international stage. The film, which was released in USA on October 6 received a lot of praise from international filmmakers. Golden Globe winner and filmmaker Siddiq Barmak praised this Hina Khan-starrer film saying, “Country of Blind is an enchanting film. It emerges as a battleground where love contends with freedom, where the decision to stay or depart teeters on the precipice, and the relentless struggle between blindness and sight reaches its zenith.” Barmak commented after watching the movie.
The film is now set to make its way to Indian theatres soon, where it is expected to encapsulate audiences with its spell-bound storyline and beautifully crafted narrative. We, as the audience, are super excited to watch this Internationally-acclaimed piece of cinema.
