After winning acclaim the world over, an extraordinary Indian film is now coming home. Fire in the Blood, which earlier this year became the first Indian film ever to be selected for the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival, the world’s most prestigious and competitive festival for independent films, is releasing in cities around the country on October 11. The film has already released theatrically in the UK, Ireland and the US to rave reviews.
Directed by Punjabi-Irish filmmaker Dylan Mohan Gray, Fire in the Blood is an intricate tale of ‘medicine, monopoly and malice’ and tells the story of how Western pharmaceutical companies and governments aggressively blocked access to low-cost AIDS drugs for the countries of Africa and the global south in the years after 1996 – causing ten million or more unnecessary deaths – and the improbable group of people who decided to fight back.
One of the most important aspects of the story is that of India as a vital beacon of hope and humanity by virtue of being the leading supplier of affordable, high-quality medicine to the world, and especially to the global south. Against all odds, India has held strong in the face of intense pressure from the US and other Western governments, defending a deeply righteous, moral and humane position based on the idea that the lives of millions and even billions of people are ultimately more important than incremental increases in the profit margins of giant pharmaceutical companies.
“India is the undisputed hero of this monumental untold story and every single Indian should know what incredible, courageous and principled leadership our nation has shown in this vital area of human life,” says Dylan.
Shot on four continents with contributions from global figures such as Bill Clinton, Desmond Tutu and Joseph Stiglitz, Fire in the Blood ultimately celebrates the remarkable coalition which came together to stop ‘the Crime of the Century’ and save million of lives in the process. With a crackling narration by Academy Award winner William Hurt, the film has been acclaimed everywhere – “indispensable viewing… powerful… extremely moving” (The Hollywood Reporter), “quietly devastating… a testament to human decency” (The Guardian), “rivetingly researched with wholly universal appeal” (Variety), “Brilliant… amazing… a real-life David and Goliath story” (BBC).
In India, the film will be released by PVR Director’s Rare on 11th October, 2013. Looking forward to the release, Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, JMD, PVR Ltd. said, “Building the appetite of the Indian consumers with an interesting mix of cinema, PVR yet again brings an indispensable yet powerful viewing for its audience in India. Fire in the Blood has been acclaimed and applauded in US and UK for showcasing a serious issue of access to medications in such an enthralling manner. The film truly explains the exuberance of PVR to exhibit commendable cinema to its movie aficionados. A revelation to the audience, the movie has been crafted really well while intelligently presenting the facts that seem to go unnoticed by many of us. An international award-winner, it will definitely be an eye opener and will be a must watch for every Indian who will feel proud of their nation for showcasing incredible, courageous and principled leadership in a vital area of human life. Accessible for all, Fire in the Blood is sure to create a massive impact on the Indian audience”.
