CHENNAI: Proving that he was every bit the altruist that he was deemed to be, five-time World Champion and Grand Master Vishwanathan Anand on Sunday took time off his hectic schedule to launch the release of Algorithms, a documentary on visually-challenged Indian chess players, with an audio-described theatrical preview in the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Anand said, “I have a connection with almost everyone in this movie. Chess is the most inclusive game because it is the one game that they (visually challenged) can play at exactly the same level that I can play in exactly the same way that I can play. All other sports will have to be modified slightly. But in chess, aside from being able to touch the pieces, the experience is the same. As I am not allowed to make the moves while I am thinking, all the visualisation is done at the same level. The only difference as far as I can tell is that I can see the pieces and positions at any time, while they will have to keep recalling it. What is amazing about these kids is that they have accepted this challenge and enjoy it. I would like to congratulate everyone associated with this movie as these kind of movies inspire them to overcome their reservations and take up the challenge of playing. The biggest challenge is for them to not think of something as being inaccessible and this movie is really about the accessibility of chess.” The documentary’s director, Ian Mc Donald, who called himself a son of UK and a son-in-law of India, said, “ This documentary’s idea came from a small newspaper report on visually challenged chess players in India in 2006. We were clear that we wanted to avoid any sense of pity.”

Algorithms is an inspiring story about three visually-challenged Indian youngsters with a special talent for chess and a visually-challenged man who not only aims to situate India on the global stage but also wants all blind children to play chess. The documentary, which was premiered in India first, has won multiple awards across the globe. It is to be released across six metros including Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore on August 21.

What is an audio-described Theatrical Preview?

It is a screening in which a narrator describes each scene in detail as it appears on screen for the benefit of visually-challenged persons in the audience. Incidentally, the preview of the documentary launched by Anand on Sunday is believed to be the first such preview in the country.

Prior to the release, Vishwanathan Anand played a blind blitz chess game with Charudatta Jadhav, the General Secretary of the All India Chess Federation for the Blind, who is also featured in the film.

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Documentary-on-Visually-C...