Country of Blind is a 2023 Indian film in Hindi and English, directed and written by Rahhat Shah Kazmi.[1] The film features a cast including shoib nikash shahHina Khan, Mir Sarwar, Anushka Sen, Ahmer Haider and others. It is based on the 1904 story of the same name by H. G. Wells.[2][3][4] The film gained significant attention and was one of three Indian films considered for the 2024 Academy Award nominations (Oscars 2024).[5][6][7]
| Country of Blind | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Rahhat Shah Kazmi |
| Written by | Rahhat Shah Kazmi |
| Story by | Based on the 1904 story by H. G. Wells |
| Produced by | Rahhat Shah Kazmi and Tariq Khan |
| Starring |
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Production companies |
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Release date |
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| Country | India |
| Languages | Hindi , English |
Plot
editThe film follows Abhimanyu, an expert mountaineer, who falls into a remote and isolated society inhabited by blind people. This society has existed for fifteen generations, cut off from the rest of the world. Abhimanyu attempts to use his advantage as a sighted person to gain control, but his efforts lead to unexpected consequences, resulting in his entrapment.
Cast
edit- Hina Khan as Gosha[8]
- Shoib Nikash Shah as Abhimanyu[9]
- Ahmer Haider as Vishwa
- Inaamulhaq as Paras
- Anushka Sen as Nandini
- Pradhuman Singh as Rajan
- Namita Lal as Mayatri
- Mir Sarwar as Ved Ji
- Hussein Khan as Guru Ji
- Jitendra Rai as Raghuraj
- Farhana Bhat as Rameshwari
- Yulian Caesar as The Mountaineer
- Rahhat Shah Kazmi as Old Man (credited as Rahat Kazmi)
Release
editThe film was released in the USA on 6 October 2023.[10][11][8] It received international praise for its storytelling and production quality.[12]
Reception
editThe film has been well received by critics, holding an IMDb rating of 8.2/10 and a perfect score of 5/5 on Rotten Tomatoes.[13]However, some reviews have noted mixed opinions. For instance, Outlook India reviewed the film, highlighting Hina Khan's earnest performance but critiquing the screenplay as lackluster.[14]
Notable Achievements
editHina Khan celebrated the inclusion of Country of Blind in the Oscars 2024 consideration list, expressing pride and excitement.[15] The actress highlighted the film's achievement alongside other notable films like '2018' and '12th Fail,' marking a significant milestone for Indian cinema on the global stage.[16][17][18][19]
References
edit- ^ "Director of 'Country of Blind' expresses joy about film making it to Oscars". TheDailyGuardian. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Hina Khan Gets Appreciation For Her Performance In 'Country Of Blind' By Golden Globe Winning Filmmaker". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Rahhat Kazmi's Country Of Blind Creates Award Season Buzz During Los Angeles FYC Screening". Yahoo Finance. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Hina Khan on 'Country of Blind' invited by the Oscar Library". 17 October 2023.
- ^ "Oscars 2024: Hina Khan's Country Of Blind In Contention With Barbie, Oppenheimer At 96th Academy Awards". Times Now. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Oscars 2024: Vikrant Massey's '12th Fail', Hina Khan's 'Country of Blind', Tovino Thomas' '2018' in nomination's race". Firstpost. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Hina Khan's Country of Blind in contention for Oscar Nominations along with 12th Fail and more. Read | Filmfare.com". www.filmfare.com. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ a b Bharat, E. T. V. (1 August 2024). "Hina Khan's 'Country Of Blind' Makes Indian Debut in Srinagar Amid Her Brave Fight Against Cancer". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "'Country of Blind' actor Shoib Shah embraces varied roles: 'Helps me explore different dimensions of storytelling'". The Times of India. 23 October 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Hina Khan's Country of Blind Gets Appreciation From Golden Globe-Winning Filmmaker; Here's What He Said". News18. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Hina Khan drops the teaser of her new film 'Country of Blind' on her birthday - WATCH". The Times of India. 3 October 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Shot In Kashmir With Local Actors, 'Country of Blind' In Race For Oscars". Kashmir Observer. 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Country of Blind | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "'Country Of Blind' Movie Review: Hina Khan's Earnest Performance Wasted Because Of A Lacklustre Screenplay". Outlook India. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "'Country Of Blind' At Oscars, Hina Khan Says, 'Fingers Crossed For Nomination'". Outlook India. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Hina Khan celebrates inclusion of 'Country of Blind' in Oscars list with '2018', '12th Fail'". The Times of India. 18 January 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Hina Khan celebrates inclusion of 'Country of Blind' in Oscars list with '2018', '12th Fail'". daijiworld.com. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Hina Khan REACTS As Country of Blind Competes With Barbie, Oppenheimer For Oscar 2024: 'This Is...'". News18. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ IANS (17 January 2024). "Hina Khan's Country of Blind Included In Oscars List With 2018, 12th Fail". news.abplive.com. Retrieved 25 August 2024.