"The Enable India film was an incredibly special project because it felt like a full-circle moment. Before entering advertising, one of the first films I made was ‘B for Braille’, about a visually impaired child and the importance of Braille literacy. So, when this script came to me, it immediately struck a personal chord. My wife runs White Print, India’s first lifestyle magazine in Braille, and through her work, I’ve had a close association with the visually impaired community. This project felt less like work and more like something we genuinely needed to do. The script was written by my dear friend, Arpan Bhattacharya. When he first discussed the idea, what stood out was its tone. From the very beginning, we were clear that this would not be a sympathy piece. Instead, we wanted to spotlight a community that society and marketers have often overlooked because of the misconception that they cannot engage with brands or experiences in the same way.
The truth is exactly the opposite: it is a large, active audience that simply requires us to think differently. That confidence, honesty and candour became the foundation of the film. Arpan had written a beautiful script, but we spent time refining the language and finding the right rhythm.
Casting was crucial. Eventually, we found Shashi ‘Samad’ and Virali Modi, two remarkable individuals who brought authenticity and confidence to the project. Since the film is essentially direct-to-camera, we focused on understanding their natural speech patterns.
One of the biggest challenges was the limited budget. But people came together because they believed in the idea.
What I’m most proud of is how seriously we took inclusion within our own process. If you’re making a film about accessibility, the filmmaking process itself must be accessible. For Shashi, who reads Braille, we worked with the National Association for the Blind to have the script printed in Braille rather than simply sending him an audio recording. Seeing the joy on his face as he ran his fingers across the pages reinforced why that decision mattered. He wasn’t simply memorising my voice; he was experiencing the script in the way he naturally reads and understands the world. With Virali, we ensured the location was accessible, arranging ramps, planning movement routes and creating spaces that allowed her complete independence. The shoot was filled with memorable moments. Shashi has an incredible sense of humour. One important learning was that inclusion doesn’t always mean overthinking language. Telling him, ‘Look here,’ felt completely natural.
Perhaps the most rewarding moment came when Enable India watched the film. There were virtually no changes between the director’s cut and final version. When the film was screened at a Purple Economy conference, the audience reaction was overwhelming.
The appreciation from Enable India remains one of the most meaningful rewards of my career. More than a film, it was a reminder that storytelling can sometimes make the world a little more inclusive.”
IMPACT’S PICK
‘Enable India X Purple Economy’ - Enable India
ABOUT SHARAT KUMAR
A director at Crazy Few Films for the past eight years, Sharat Kumar, brings a keen observer’s eye and a filmmaker’s instinct to every frame, turning fleeting human truths into compelling narratives. Armed with a strong foundation in filmmaking from York University, Toronto, and a body of work spanning brands like Groww, Tanishq, Raymond, Maruti Suzuki and Kohler, Kumar’s films are marked by warmth, authenticity and an effortless understanding of people.
BEST WORK
‘Ye Market Sabka Hai’ - Groww
‘Everybody Can’ - Tetley
CAMPAIGNS I LOVE
‘Choli ke peeche kya hai?’ - Whole Truth Protein
‘Sleep Solves Everything’ – SleepyCat Mattress
