Documentary
Sajan Raj Kurup joins The Commandant’s Shadow as executive producer
Mumbai: While India makes waves at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, it was announced on Friday (26 April 2024) in a statement by Warner Bros. Pictures and Fathom Events that Daniela Völker’s much-talked-about documentary The Commandant’s Shadow is set to release in 500 theatres across the U.S. on May 29, 2024, with an encore presentation the following day.
A little-known fact is that this hard-hitting documentary also boasts a strong Indian connection, with noted creative head and entrepreneur Sajan Raj Kurup serving as Executive producer on the documentary film.
Speaking about this Kurup said, “It is a proud moment for us at Creators Inc. and Creativeland Studios to be able to back The Commandant’s Shadow, a story that deserves telling, and we are happy to see it reach a wide audience with its upcoming release in the US.”
“For me personally, I am happy that the dream I set out to achieve, to back content that builds legacy, is one step closer. I am positive this will be the first of many such landmarks from Creators Inc. and Creativeland Studios” he added.
The Commandant’s Shadow follows Hans Jürgen Höss, son of Auschwitz’s Commandant Rudolf Höss, confronting his father’s terrible legacy for the first time and as he is introduced to Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, a Jewish survivor of the camp. Their historic meeting, eight decades later, in Anita’s London living room, alongside their children Kai Höss and Maya Lasker-Wallfisch, delves into their very different hereditary burdens and raises questions about love, guilt, and forgiveness. This feature-length documentary explores the trans-generational impact of war crimes, yet ultimately offers a story of hope, acceptance, and compassion.
The documentary film is written, produced and directed by Daniela Völker and produced by Gloria Abramoff, with Wendy Robbins, Neil Blair, Jonathan Blair, Matti Leshem, Joel Greenberg, Len Blavatnik, Danny Cohen, Sajan Raj Kurup, Jani Guest and Jamie Jessop serving as executive producers. Völker’s creative team includes directors of photography Rob Goldie and Piotr Trela, editor Claire Guillon, and music composer Gabriel Chwojnik.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with HBO Documentary Films, A Snowstorm Productions / Creators Inc. Production, In Association with New Mandate Films, A Film By Daniela Völker, “The Commandant’s Shadow.” It will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, and is rated PG-13 for thematic content involving the Holocaust, some disturbing images, and smoking.
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.
