Private Project

Ali - the Blind Boxer

ALI - THE BLIND BOXER is a magic realism film about a common man’s determination to prove that people with visual challenge are no less than sighted people and they deserve equal opportunity and respect in the society.

This is also the first ever boxing film in which the protagonist blind boxer’s role has been played by a visually challenged actor.

The film has won multiple awards and recognitions at international film festivals and has been written about by prominent media and film journalists for its unique subject and realistic treatment.

Synopsis:
A ridiculed boxing coach is determined to prove that his student, a blind boy, is no less than sighted boxer.

Awards / Recognitions:

- BEST FEATURE FILM ON DISABILITY, Golden Bee International Children's Film Festival, India
- BEST FEATURE FILM, Kolkata Indie Film Awards, India
- BEST FILM (Films on Disability Issues), DRUK International Film Festival, Bhutan
- BEST FILM (Films on Disability Issues), Calcutta International Cult Film Festival, India
- BEST FILM, International Motion Picture Festival of India, India
- WINNER, Accolade Global Film Competition, USA
- WINNER, Ganges International Film Festival, India
- AWARD OF RECOGNITION (Disability Issues), The IndieFEST Film Awards, USA
- HONORABLE MENTION, Champion Film Salon International Film Festival, USA
- OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT (Films on Disability Issue), World Film Carnival, Singapore
- OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT (Films on Disability Issues), Tagore International Film Festival, India
- OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT (Films on Disability Issues), Gangtok International Film Festival, Sikkim
- DEBUT FILMMAKER OF FEATURE FILM, Indo French International Film Festival, India
- BEST FILM (Mobile Film), DRUK International Film Festival, Bhutan
- FINALIST, 15th International CHINH INDIA KIDS FILM FESTIVAL, INDIA
- SEMI-FINALIST, EQAD Equality and Diversity Film Festival, UK
- QUARTER-FINALIST, Amdabad Film Festival, India
- QUARTER-FINALIST, Social World Film Festival, Italy
- NOMINEE, Golden Fox Awards 2021
- NOMINEE, Sun of the East Awards 2021
- NOMINEE, Golden Marlon Awards 2021
- NOMINEE, Golden Bison Awards 2021
- NOMINEE, Golden Bull Awards 2021
- OFFICIAL SELECTION, International Social Change Film Festival, USA
- OFFICIAL SELECTION, Goa International Film Competition 2021, India
- OFFICIAL SELECTION, CMS International Children's Film Festival, India
- OFFICIAL SCREENING, Kenya International Sports Film Festival, Kenya

In the news:

Times of India:
Kolkata duo’s film sheds light on a blind boxer’s dreams
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/kol-duos-film-sheds-light-on-a-blind-boxers-dreams/articleshow/80605738.cms

Indian Express:
Film by Pune directors, starring blind city student, aims a punch at stereotypes in boxing
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/film-by-pune-directors-starring-blind-city-student-on-breaking-stereotypes-in-boxing-and-dealing-with-lifes-jabs-7181547/

Sarita Magazine, India:
(article written by Ashwmedh Award winner & eminent film journalist Shantiswaroop Tripathi)
Ali - the Blind Boxer film is a fight against social discrimination
https://www.sarita.in/bollywood/interview-of-director-bijoy-banarjee?fbclid=IwAR3s-P0n7XxhF8p2IPuv1oQxs9bIucfDwk5YEKy1Yw2RWfNcWoCCESFZv_4

Mumbai Samachar, India:
(article written by eminent journalist and social author Praful Shah)
Blind dream, Bright hope!
https://www.bombaysamachar.com/frmStoryShow.aspx?sNo=673854

  • 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-writer)
    Writer
    Co-writer of Upohar (the gift), an award winning short film
  • Kaushik Mondal (Co-writer)
    Writer
    Co-writer 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
  • Kaushik Mondal (Co-porducer)
    Producer
    Co-producer of Upohar (the gift), an award winning short film
  • Anjali Vyas (Executive Producer)
    Producer
  • Angshuman Hazra (Executive Producer)
    Producer
  • Ashish Ahuja (Executive Producer)
    Producer
  • Deepak Mishra (Executive Producer)
    Producer
  • Dhruba Chakrabarty
    Producer
  • Jayant Kulkarni (Executive Producer)
    Producer
  • Pankaj Kumar (Executive Producer)
    Producer
  • Ratnadeep Mukherjee (Executive Producer)
    Producer
  • Sayananta Mukherjee (Executive Producer)
    Producer
  • Shamik Dutta (Executive Producer)
    Producer
  • Sumanda Basu (Executive Producer)
    Producer
  • Sutirtha Sinha (Executive Producer)
    Producer
  • Shabir Sheikh
    Key Cast
    "Ali"
  • Aakash Awate
    Key Cast
    "Akash (Ali's Boxing Coach)"
  • Tejashri Bhame
    Key Cast
    "Ruksana (Ali's sister)"
  • Anish Shelar
    Key Cast
    "Ali's father"
  • Archana Patil
    Key Cast
    "Farida (Ali's mother)"
  • Atul Awad
    Key Cast
    "Nayak (Boxing Coach)"
  • Vinod Ganjoo
    Key Cast
    "Ashwin (Boxing Coach)"
  • Santosh Patil
    Key Cast
    "Chairman (Boxing Academy)"
  • Bijoy Banerjee
    Cinematography
  • Kaushik Mondal
    Cinematography
  • Vinay Deshpande
    Editing
  • Aditya Palorkar (Assistant Editor)
    Editing
  • Shubham Kokale (Assistant Editor)
    Editing
  • Nakkul Talwalkar
    Sync sound recording
  • Prathamesh Kanade (Assistant recordist)
    Sync sound recording
  • Amir Khan Pathan (Boom control)
    Sync sound recording
  • Vinay Deshpande
    Music
  • Onkar Navale
    Music
  • Vinay Deshpande
    Sound Design & Mixing
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, Disability, Social Equality, Boxing movie, sports movie, children's movie, kid's movie, blind boxing
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 16 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 4, 2020
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Hindi
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Golden Bee International Children's Film Festival, India
    New Delhi
    India
    February 21, 2021
    New Delhi Premier
    WINNER (Best Feature Film on Disability)
  • Kolkata Indie Film Awards, India

    India
    BEST FEATURE FILM
  • DRUK International Film Festival, Bhutan
    Paro
    Bhutan
    Paro, Bhutan
    BEST FILM (Films on Disability Issues)
  • Calcutta International Cult Film Festival, India
    Calcutta
    India
    Calcutta, India
    BEST FILM (Films on Disability Issues)
  • International Motion Picture Festival of India, India

    India
    BEST FILM
  • Accolade Global Film Competition, USA

    United States
    WINNER
  • The IndieFEST Film Awards, USA
    La Jolla, California
    United States
    La Jolla, California
    WINNER - Award of Recognition (Disability Issues)
  • Ganges International Film Festival, India

    India
    Winner
  • Champion Film Salon International Film Festival, USA

    HONORABLE MENTION
  • World Film Carnival, Singapore
    Singapore
    Singapore
    WINNER - OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (Films on Disability Issues)
  • Tagore International Film Festival, India
    Bolpur
    India
    Bolpur, Shantiniketan
    WINNER - OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (Films on Disability Issues)
  • Gangtok International Film Festival, Sikkim
    Gangtok, Sikkim
    WINNER - OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (Films on Disability Issues)
  • Indo French International Film Festival, India
    Pondicherry
    India
    WINNER (Special Jury Award, Debut Filmmaker of Feature Film)
  • DRUK International Film Festival, Bhutan
    Paro
    Bhutan
    Paro, Bhutan
    BEST FILM (Mobile Film category)
  • 15th International CHINH INDIA KIDS FILM FESTIVAL, INDIA
    New Delhi
    India
    FINALIST
  • EQAD Equality and Diversity Film Festival, UK

    United Kingdom
    United Kingdom Premier
    SEMI-FINALIST
  • Amdabad Film Festival, India

    India
    QUARTER-FINALIST
  • Social World Film Festival, Italy

    Italy
    QUARTER-FINALIST
  • Golden Fox Awards 2021

    NOMINEE
  • Sun of the East Awards 2021

    NOMINEE
  • Golden Marlon Awards 2021

    NOMINEE
  • Golden Bison Awards 2021

    NOMINEE
  • Golden Bull Awards 2021

    NOMINEE
  • International Social Change Film Festival, USA
    Chicago
    United States
    Midwest Premier
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Goa International Film Competition, India

    India
    OFFICIAL SELECTION (final result awaited)
  • CMS International Children's Film Festival, India
    Lucknow
    India
    Lucknow, India
    OFFICIAL SELECTION (final result awaited)
  • Kenya International Sports Film Festival, Kenya
    Nairobi
    Kenya
    November 1, 2020
    Africa Premier
    OFFICIAL SCREENING (Kenya Premier)
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 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. Qualified Engineers, both are happy balancing corporate jobs and their passion for filmmaking.