Experiencing Interruptions?

Blind Spot

CHASHMA (BLIND SPOT) is set in India in 1992, a period marked by rising socio-political unrest and deepening social divides. The film follows Supriyo, an 11-year-old boy burdened by poor eyesight and an acute fear of standing out. But his challenges extend beyond vision. When a fight breaks out between two classmates from different communities, Supriyo becomes an unexpected witness to a moment that forces him to question what he truly saw. As tensions simmer in the world around him, he’s pushed to navigate the fragile lines between friendship, loyalty, and inherited prejudice. The short film explores the ‘blind spots’ within individuals and society, as a young boy confronts the limits of perception, belief, and choice.

  • Nitin Baid
    Director
  • Varun Grover
    Writer
    Masaan, Sacred Games, All India Rank, Three of Us
  • Dimpy Agrawal
    Producer
  • Konkona Sensharma
    Key Cast
    "Aarti"
    Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, Amu, Omkara, Luck By Chance, Wake Up Sid, Lipstick Under My Burkha, Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi, Ajeeb Daastaans, Killer Soup
  • Ayan Khan
    Key Cast
    "Supriyo"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Chashma
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Children
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 53 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 20, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    45,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Hindi
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.66:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Nitin Baid

Nitin Baid is a first-time director. CHASHMA (BLIND SPOT) is his directorial debut. Nitin Baid’s first feature as an editor, MASAAN, was screened at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard and won two awards. He is the first Indian editor selected for the prestigious Berlinale Talent Campus and the only Indian editor as well as a member of the international editing panel at Edimotion 2023. Additionally, he has won numerous accolades and awards for editing in his home country. Nitin now turns his focus to his directorial debut with CHASHMA. He recently edited HOMEBOUND, which premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard, with Martin Scorsese as Executive Producer.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Our childhoods have a lasting impact on who we become. CHASHMA (BLIND SPOT) is inspired by my boyhood and the coming of age of a nation.

I grew up in the 1990s in India, which marked a turning point as a nascent country finding its identity. There was a significant shift in cultural and political change during that era.

As a young boy living in erstwhile Calcutta, I was discovering my identity while the country seemed to evolve so rapidly. I struggled with myopia for eight months and was terrified to admit it to anyone, including my family, out of fear of being bullied in school. During this period, my inability to see things at a distance led me to partake in situations similar to Supriyo, our protagonist in the film. This led me to think about a question years later: ‘Do we really see things for what they are, or do our perceptions and prejudices shape everything we see?’

Anchoring that thought as a centerpiece, the short film explores the journey of Supriyo, an 11-year-old boy who struggles with his poor vision and the changing relationships around him. It reflects on my formative years of discovering myself and the country around me.

While making this short film, I had to challenge my perceptions, and Supriyo had to question his, but in doing so, I felt a connection to the character and the story that I hope will resonate with audiences worldwide.

CHASHMA is a deeply personal film for me, and my connection to its story and themes made it the most natural choice for my directorial debut.