Documentary
Akash Sagar Chopra’s documentary ‘Walking With M’ wins four awards across the film festival circuit in Europe
Mumbai: Filmmaker and producer Akash Sagar Chopra’s highly acclaimed and award winning documentary, “Walking With M” is a ground-breaking feature and a global documentary event, that has garnered honours at various international film festivals.
The film made with over 1500hrs of archival footage has received the Best Documentary Award (Berlin FFI) at Milan Italy, The Global Peace and Harmony Award at The International Film Festival The Hague, Out-standing Achievement Award at the Swedish International Film Festival, and has also won the prestigious Honorable Mention Award at the Athens International Monthly Film Festival in Athens, Greece.
With a runtime of one hour and 37 minutes, ‘Walking with M’ is based on the Walk of Hope 2015 movement, a peace march led by author and educationist Mumtaz Ali (Sri M, recipient of the Padmabhushan Award 2020), as he and a group of 100 co-walkers walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, in the year 2015.
Seven years in making, the film tells the incredible story of Sri M’s ardoulous 7500km journey on foot, emphasizing the change within the individual as a true catalyst for societal change. Told through a gripping narrative, the film covers a journey of 474 days, across India’s di-verse landscape.
Receiving immense praise and acclaim across its screenings in Milan, Athens and across the Euro-pean Film Festival Circuit, the film has also garnered nominations for Best Director of a Documentary, Best Editing of a Documentary, and The Historical Interest Award at Film Fest International (Berlin FFI) Milan, Italy. It has also been selected as a Finalist at the Scandinavian International Film Awards (Cameo Awards Gala).
The documentary has also been selected and screened at renowned film festivals across Asia and other parts of Europe including Film South Asia (Nepal), Paradise Film Festival(Budapest, Hungary), and The Stockholm City Film Festival and it had its UK premiere with two screenings at the prestigious Garden Cinemas in London.
The film also premiered in Fremont, a part of the Bay Area near San Francisco, USA with three shows running at a full house capacity back-to-back, with a demand for more.
Closer home, the first Indian screening after the global festival circuit held at The Royal Opera House in Mumbai where the film received a seven-minute standing ovation.
Speaking about the documentary, film maker Sagar Pictures Entertainment CEO Akash Sagar Chopra said, “It’s heartwarming to witness widespread resonance with our documentary. It’s a collective effort offering an immersive glimpse into the Walk of Hope movement. We’re thrilled by its universal reception and global acclaim across numerous countries.”
Sagar Pictures Entertainment, the Indian distribution partner of the film, has announced that the film has now been taken up for distribution in North America. It will also be dubbed in various Indian languages, for community screening tours across various Indian cities.
Documentary
Discovery Channel premieres Unani Ki Kahaani on World Unani Day
Actor Jim Sarbh narrates a journey through Unani medicine, history, and modern wellness
MUMBAI: In celebration of World Unani Day, Discovery Channel has premiered Unani Ki Kahaani, a captivating new documentary narrated by actor Jim Sarbh. The film explores Unani medicine not just as an ancient tradition but as a philosophy of health that remains relevant in today’s world of lifestyle disorders and chronic illnesses.
Produced in collaboration with Hamdard Laboratories, the documentary traces Unani medicine from its roots in ancient Greece to its flourishing practice in India. Along the way, it asks a simple yet profound question: what does it really mean to be healthy? And why do we often treat symptoms without curing the underlying problem?
At the heart of Unani medicine is the belief in balance, between body, mind, spirit, and environment. The documentary reflects on moments like the Covid-19 pandemic, when India turned to both modern medicine and its own centuries-old systems of preventive care.
Jim Sarbh’s narration gives the story a modern voice, guiding viewers through history, philosophy, and science with curiosity and clarity.
Hamdard Laboratories chairman and managing trustee Abdul Majeed said, “Unani Ki Kahaani invites viewers to see healing as more than symptom relief. It is about balance, prevention, and long-term wellbeing. Through Unani medicine, we aim to help everyone understand that true healing restores harmony.”
Commenting on his role, Jim Sarbh added, “Narrating Unani Ki Kahaani was a learning experience. I was struck by how this system connects history, culture, and the idea of living in balance.”
The film brings historical icons such as Hippocrates and Ibn Sina together with Indian pioneers including Hakim Ajmal Khan, Hafiz Abdul Majeed, and Hakeem Abdul Hameed, showing how Unani has evolved as a living, adaptive system shaped by multiple cultures.
Featuring insights from modern medicine, Ayurveda, Unani practitioners, academics, and public health experts, Unani Ki Kahaani bridges traditional knowledge with contemporary healthcare. Its aim is to make holistic healing approachable for everyone, especially younger audiences seeking deeper understanding in a fast-paced world.
