Documentary
‘Algorithms’ shortlisted for Britain’s Grierson Awards
NEW DELHI: Algorithms, Ian McDonald’s award-winning documentary on India’s young blind chess players, is among films shortlisted for the prestigious Grierson Award in the Best newcomer documentary category.
The final nominations for the Grierson awards will be announced on 16 September prior to the awards ceremony in London on 3 November.
Excited about the nomination, the British filmmaker said, “We are really thrilled to make the shortlist. It is a great honour and it also means it will bring the story of India’s blind chess community to the attention of an audience in the UK and beyond.”
Directed by McDonald and produced by Indian producer Geetha J, the documentary has been screened at over twenty international film festivals and won six awards, including Best Film at Film SouthAsia in Kathmandu. It is the first ever feature documentary on Blind Chess.
Filmed over three years from just before the World Junior Blind Chess Championship in Sweden in 2009 to just after the next championship in Greece in 2011, it follows three talented boys from different parts of India and a totally blind player turned pioneer, who not only aims to situate India on a global stage but also wants all blind children to play chess
The New York based First Run Features, a leading distributor of independent films in America, acquired the North American rights to the film early this year.
Established in 1972, the Grierson Awards commemorate the pioneering Scottish documentary filmmaker John Grierson, widely regarded as the father of the documentary.
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.
