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

Cinder Block Films proudly announces 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 is 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.

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. Saylami's approach to production design emphasizes authenticity, atmosphere, and emotional resonance.

Through extensive research, location studies, and collaboration with the film's creative team—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. Cinder Block Films, an independent film production company committed to cinematic excellence and transformative storytelling, has developed a strong reputation for nurturing visually ambitious projects and championing stories that leave a lasting cultural impact.

Dare To Run represents a flagship project for the company—an adaptation of Amit Sheth's acclaimed memoir that goes beyond sports to explore the universal themes of perseverance, inner growth, and the celebration of the human experience. This production brings together a select team of passionate filmmakers and internationally recognized talent, aiming to deliver not just a film, but an emotional journey that resonates across audiences and cultures. 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 real-world relevance and visual poetry.

In her role as Production Designer, Razan Saylami will shape the film's visual narrative from the ground up, translating the book's philosophical core into a sensory, cinematic world. Through close collaboration with director Advait Dewasthalee, producer Sehran Khan, and director of photography Siddharth Chawla, Saylami will oversee the transformation of spaces, environments, and moods, ensuring that every frame reflects the complexity and spirit of the source material. 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.

According to Shreya Jha, Executive Producer, Cinder Block Films is driven by a vision to unite story and artistry on an international stage. Razan's creative insight and collaborative spirit bring unparalleled depth to Dare To Run, allowing the team to honor the realities of the journey while inspiring viewers to imagine the possibilities within themselves. With this project, Cinder Block Films continues to set new standards for visual storytelling—fusing artistic innovation with authentic representation and reinforcing its position as a production company devoted to powerful, enduring cinema.