Cinder Block Films Appoints Razan Saylami as Production Designer for 'Dare To Run' Adaptation

Cinder Block Films has announced that Razan Saylami will serve as Production Designer for the upcoming feature film Dare To Run, based on the best-selling book by Amit Sheth. The film represents a cinematic exploration of resilience, transformation, and the human spirit, tracing one man's extraordinary journey from tentative beginnings on a Mumbai beach to completing the famed Comrades Ultra Marathon in South Africa.

Saylami's appointment signals the production company's commitment to visual excellence in adapting Sheth's acclaimed memoir. As Production Designer, Saylami will craft the visual identity of Dare To Run—translating the story's emotional and spiritual depth into tangible cinematic form. Her vision will bridge Mumbai's intimate personal spaces with the sweeping grandeur of international marathon landscapes, building an immersive world that draws audiences into Amit and Neepa Sheth's journey of endurance and self-discovery.

The significance of this announcement lies in the critical role production design plays in bringing literary works to life on screen. Saylami's approach emphasizes authenticity, atmosphere, and emotional resonance, which are essential for a story that explores universal themes of perseverance and inner growth. Through extensive research, location studies, and collaboration with the film's creative team—including Director Advait Dewasthalee, Director of Photography Siddharth Chawla, Editor Tanay Shah, and Producer Sehran Khan—she will shape the film's visual narrative to reflect both the grit of physical struggle and the beauty of personal awakening.

For the film industry, this appointment highlights the growing importance of production design in creating culturally resonant cinema. Cinder Block Films, known for their innovative approach to filmmaking, has developed a strong reputation for nurturing visually ambitious projects and championing stories that leave a lasting cultural impact. The company's dedication to both authenticity and creative artistry positions Dare To Run as a flagship project that could set new standards for visual storytelling in independent cinema.

According to Shreya Jha, Executive Producer, Cinder Block Films is driven by a vision to unite story and artistry on an international stage. Jha noted that Saylami's creative insight and collaborative spirit bring unparalleled depth to Dare To Run, allowing the production to honor the realities of the journey while inspiring viewers to imagine the possibilities within themselves. This collaboration represents the company's ongoing mission to craft stories with real-world relevance and visual poetry, reinforcing its position as a production company devoted to powerful, enduring cinema.

The film adaptation of Dare To Run goes beyond sports to explore universal human experiences, offering audiences worldwide an emotional journey that resonates across cultures. Saylami's role in translating the book's philosophical core into a sensory, cinematic world will be crucial in maintaining the story's authenticity while creating a visually compelling narrative. Her previous work demonstrates a mastery of visual storytelling—integrating research, conceptual artistry, and meticulous attention to cultural context, which are critical to a production of this scope and ambition.

For viewers and the broader entertainment industry, this production represents the continuing evolution of how personal stories of transformation can be brought to the screen with artistic integrity and visual sophistication. The narrative's unique blend of intimate realism and epic scale offers Cinder Block Films a canvas to further its legacy as a company that crafts stories with both emotional depth and cinematic excellence.