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Non Profit Organisation IART (India Amateur Runners Trust) are working on the production of their pioneering running documentary in cooperation with Curley Street Media and In the Brilliant White.
This running movie is a testament to the power that running brings into our lives and will showcase several inspiring stories of amateur runners who have come to terms or overcome their battle with issues like cancer, blindness, obesity, smoking, loss of a child and hip replacement, with running as their key support during this period.
We at Dumbelled.com were lucky enough to have a heart-to-heart with the people whose efforts have made this movie possible - Ashok Nath, Trustee at IART, 5-time Boston marathon qualifier and running evangelist, Kalpana Komal, who heads the creative agency “In The Brilliant White” and Pavitra Challam, from “Curley Street Media”, who is the Director of the Movie.
Q. How did the concept of this movie come about?
Kalpana: Ashok came up with the idea of making a documentary film on running back in August. I joined him, as films are something I do professionally, and came up with the concept for the film. My creative agency In the Brilliant White is a co-producer for this film, and I am involved in the creative process and execution.
Pavitra, of Curley Street Media (also a co-producer) came on board as the director, as she has a great inclination towards social-interest films.
Q. Tell us why you believe a movie of this nature is the right step forward?
Ashok: The rhythmic simple action of running makes it so appealing to thousands of ordinary people, and India Amateur Runners Trust’s mandate is to grow and improve our running space. Personally, I have a special gift, both as a practitioner and a teacher, for running, and believe it’s my duty to “pay it forward”. My initiation of this movie venture is a small step in this direction.
Pavitra: I wanted to make this particular film because I believe that running is about guts and courage. When you fall in love with running you are empowered by the freedom it brings to your life. People run for love, for those they’ve lost, for social change, to be alone, to engage with nature, for joy! Running is exhilarating.
Q. What effect will this documentary cinema bring in our nation’s running community?
Ashok: We aim to create awareness for the several benefits of running and dispel misconceptions in fence sitters, reassuring them that their problems are not unique and that running is beneficial. Hopefully these will encourage more people to take to the sport. As our running space grows, we all benefit.
Pavitra: At Curley Street, we are storytellers who believe in the power of cinema for positive change. Our films are about hope. I believe that this film will make many people get up, put on their running shoes and take to the road. It’s such a great love and it can be for everyone.
Kalpana: We hope to inspire people to take to running. But more importantly, we hope to make runners out of people. As running is not just going to change their fitness levels, but also their lives. And runners are fantastic people, even if I may say so myself.
One of the runners who really inspires me from the film is a single mother from Mumbai. A fantastic runner, she found the courage to move on from a bad marriage, which in itself is a very hard situation to deal with. But she also deals with her child’s autism. Taking him to therapy, changing her life to suit his. As one can imagine, such a situation can lead a person into depression. Thanks to running and of course, her vibrant personality, she leads a very happy and fulfilled life.
The IART, being a non-profit organization, is resort resorting to crowd-funding, from runners and friends of runners, to convert this wonderful initiative into a reality.
Q. Why crowd funding and not the usual sponsorship route?
Ashok: This is our first movie venture, and a first for India. We didn’t wish to compromise on its integrity by accepting the usual terms of a sponsor. For example, a sports shoe brand wanted to know if the participants would wear their brand which I felt was an unreasonable ask as genuineness was key.
At another level, I want my running community to take some ownership, and resorting to crowd funding from runners (and friends of runners) was the way. It is a difficult path that we have chosen but so be it. I believe in my friends and fellow runners. The response has been very encouraging and so far 105 patrons have donated a total sum of Rs. 15.75 lakh. We need more people to join in and make it a huge success.
We at, Dumbelled.com, invite readers to join as patrons and help bridge the Rs. 4.25 lakh gap required to launch this movie by making a contribution ranging from Rs. 5,000 – 25,000 – 50,000 – Rs. 1 lakh. All patrons will be provided with a credit mention in the movie – unless specifically not sought – and a DVD copy.
Contributions may be drawn in favour of:
Name: INDIA AMATEUR RUNNERS TRUSTBank: CORPORATION BANK, Domlur Branch, BangaloreCurrent Account No: 063600101015145 (for RTGS/NEFT/ECS)IFSC Code: CORP0000636MICR Code: 56001703
For further details contact: [email protected]
