Netflix hosted a special pre-release screening of The Great Indian Kapil Show (Independence Day Special Episode) for the visually impaired community. Held at the Netflix India office in Mumbai, in collaboration with the National Association for the Blind, Mumbai, the screening was enabled with built-in audio descriptions, ensuring the episode could be fully experienced by all.

In attendance at the screening were Tukaram Mundhe, IAS (Secretary, Divyang Kalyan Department, Government of Maharashtra), and Prakash Magdum, IIS (Managing Director, National Film Development Corporation of India). The cast of the show joined for a surprise and a curated talent showcase by the blind community – Kapil Sharma, Sunil Grover, Kiku Sharda and Archana Puran Singh, to celebrate the occasion.

Netflix globally has been creating Audio Descriptions for its content since 2015. Today, all Netflix original titles come with built-in audio descriptions, a voiceover that narrates key visual elements like facial expressions, physical actions, settings, and scene changes. This makes the story more accessible for blind or low vision audiences.

The platform is further enabled with additional accessibility features and plug-ins such as screen reader compatibility, customizable subtitles, and assistive listening systems to ensure that entertainment can be enjoyed by everyone, without barriers.

Sharing his thoughts on the initiative, Kapil Sharma, actor and host of The Great Indian Kapil Show, added, “As performers, there’s nothing more rewarding than knowing your work can reach more hearts. Being part of this special screening, where every joke, every moment could be felt and experienced equally, was a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do.”

Dr. Vimal Kumar Dengla, Secretary General, National Association for the Blind, said, “Entertainment should be for everyone, and when platforms like Netflix prioritise accessibility, it opens up a world of entertainment for our community. Audio description is more than a feature; its inclusion in action. We truly appreciate this collaboration and hope to see many more such initiatives in the future.”

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Speaking about the initiative, Tanya Bami, Series Head, Netflix India, said, “Storytelling feels complete only when everyone has the opportunity to be a part of it. At Netflix, we’re deeply committed to making our content more accessible. All our titles globally are available with audio descriptions, and we’ve hosted similar inclusive screenings in other countries too. This screening is not just an event, it’s a step towards building a space where every voice matters and every viewer feels seen and heard.”