Khabar Lahariya, Makers Of Writing With Fire In Tussle Over "Inaccurate" Representation

The documentary on Khabar Lahariya, a rural, women-led news organisation, has been called "inaccurate" by its subject organisation. The film Writing With Fire has been nominated under the Best Documentary Feature category at the 94th Academy Awards.

Khabar Lahariaya released a statement on social media, addressing the film and its representation of the journalistic work done by the organisation, which is spearheaded by their chief reporter Meera Devi. The film, directed by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh is about the success of Khabar Lahariya in creating an all-women newsroom in rural India.

This documentary was filmed by the duo between 2016 and 2019 when the news organisation was growing from a newspaper to making its mark in the digital space. The makers followed Meera Devi and the staffers Shyamkali Devi and Suneeta Parajapati as they chased leads and made way through the crowd of male journalists, amongst many other issues.

According to the website of Khabar Lahariya, the organisation has 30 reporters and freelancers in 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in India.

Suggested Reading: Indian Documentary Writing With Fire Based On Female Journalists Nominated For Oscars

Khabar Lahariya Documentary

Taking to social media, the media organisation wrote, "The Khabar Lahariya story is far more complex than the one going to the #Oscars. The #documentary captures a part of our story, and part stories have a way of distorting the whole sometimes. #Oscar2022 #AcademyAwards."

They also shared their view on the documentary, while adding that they have turned 20 years old. "It seems significant that this is also the year in which we have been featured in a documentary that has been nominated for an Academy Award. We had a chance to watch the entire film as an organisation recently, and we would like to make our views clear."

In their view, "the film is a moving and powerful documentary, but its presentation of Khabar Lahariya as an organisation with a particular and consuming focus of reporting on one party and the mobilisation around this, is inaccurate." They also stated that they recognise the "prerogative" of the filmmakers and the story they had chosen to present. However, they said that it "eclipses the kind of work and the kind of local journalism we have done for twenty years, the reason we are different from other mainstream media of our times."

Speaking to The Indian Express the makers of the documentary film said, "Khabar Lahariya's statement is an acknowledgement of the fractured and complex times we are in. While their statement is deeply disappointing to us, we remain committed supporters of their mission, work and onward journey."

SheThePeople has reached out to director Rintu Thomas for her comments on the statement. The article will be updated as and when we receive a reply from the filmmaker.

(Feature Image Credit: Writing With Fire YouTube)