Private Project

Blind Punch

BLIND PUNCH documentary tells the true story of Shabir Sheikh, a visually impaired teenager boy in India, who is trying to "knockout" the common misbelief and prejudice that boxing is impossible without eyesight. Shabir Sheikh is India's 1st aspiring blind boxer.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS:

- FINALIST | Uno sguardo raro - The Rare Disease International Film Festival, Italy
- FINALIST, Champion Film Salon International Film Festival, USA (final result awaited)
- OFFICIAL ENTRY | Easterseals Disability Film Challenge 2021, USA
- OFFICIAL SELECTION | First-time Filmmaker Online Sessions, UK

Though the United Nations Council on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities states that every differently abled individual must be viewed as an equal member of the society and provided with equitable opportunities to live up to the fullest of their potential - irrespective of the area of expertise, however, International Boxing Federation rules do not allow people with visual challenges to participate in this sport. Even Para-Olympics has not recognized boxing as a sport for the visually challenged. .

This discrimination and inequality in boxing sport has not deterred Shabir Sheikh to pursue his interest and aspiration to become a boxer and someday teach boxing to visually challenged kids in India.

BLIND PUNCH hopes to be a callout for the Boxing community and Para-Olympics committee, urging them for inclusivity in boxing. It's also a callout for all those people, who think that visual challenge or disability in general, limits human potential.

  • Bijoy Banerjee (Co-director)
    Director
    Co-Director of Upohar (the gift), an award winning short film
  • Kaushik Mondal (Co-director)
    Director
    Co-Director of Upohar (the gift), an award winning short film
  • Bijoy Banerjee (Co-producer)
    Producer
    Co-Producer of Upohar (the gift), an award winning short film and Producer of various other short films such as, A summer Noon, 85%, Breaking Chakravyu
  • Kaushik Mondal (Co-producer)
    Producer
    Co-Producer of Upohar (the gift), an award winning short film
  • Shabir Sheikh
    Key Cast
  • Vinay Deshpande
    Music
    Ali - the blind boxer
  • Nakkul Talwalkar
    Sync Sound
    Ali - the blind boxer, Land 1857
  • Bijoy Banerjee
    Editing
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 15 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 20, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Hindi
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Uno sguardo raro - The Rare Disease International Film Festival, Italy

    Italy
    FINALIST (final result awaited)
  • Champion Film Salon International Film Festival, USA

    United States
    FINALIST (final result awaited)
  • Easterseals Disability Film Challenge

    United States
    OFFICIAL ENTRY
  • First-time Filmmakers Online Sessions

    United Kingdom
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
Director Biography - Bijoy Banerjee (Co-director), Kaushik Mondal (Co-director)

The award-winning filmmakers Bijoy Banerjee and Kaushik Mondal are committed to utilize the power of cinema beyond entertainment. They want to raise questions, thoughts and awareness about issues that are plaguing our society.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Bijoy Banerjee and Kaushik Mondal are passionate about bringing to silver screen untold stories and events that are inspiring and thought provoking. Self-taught in film making, they started their cinematic journey in 2014 with a short film UPOHAR (the gift). The film focused on the value of relationship in the context of modern nuclear family structure. It won multiple international awards and international film festival screenings, including best child actor and critics’ awards. Their second venture is ALI – THE BLIND BOXER, a 1 hour film on social discrimination against visually challenged. This film has won 8 international awards so far and more news is awaited from festivals circuit. In their documentary, BLIND PUNCH, they have questioned the deep rooted belief that boxing is impossible without eyesight. Qualified Engineers, both are happy balancing corporate jobs and their passion for filmmaking.