Vishnu works at the local tannery, and on the day the film opens, he requests a half day of work. He is expecting a guest at home who is special enough to not only let go of half a day’s wages, but also to irk his boss with a leave request soon after a recent one the previous week. 

As the story develops, it is revealed that a lot of Vishnu’s hopes to overcome his day-to-day problems hinge on this visit of the ever-evasive guest. In the process of portraying it, the film brings to the fore the cyclicality of hope in the face of despair, especially in the face of despair. Despite all odds and bleakness, Vishnu vehemently holds on to what he calls “blind faith”, while his immediate reality remains crippled with financial difficulties and responsibilities. In a world rife with exploitation, where a clay model is swiftly replaced by another, an idol attains overwhelming power, and the wait for a better tomorrow becomes the driving force. 



The narrative presents its comment on the many tribulations of existence by way of abstraction and the divine. The portrayal and approach to all of these ideas are skilled and notable, supported equally by the performances and screenplay.

Waiting for Kalki | Short Film of the Month

Shorted

Equipped with an economy of dialogue and visuals that are sustained with patience, the short film is a reflection on isolation and loneliness. It further presents the unexpected paths that Bittu and Shalu find themselves going on without realising. 

The story takes us first into Bittu's life; he is a bus driver in a quiet corner of Himachal Pradesh. His life is defined by marital turmoil and the mundaneness of his days. Parallel to this, in a farther removed corner is Shalu, who leads an existence of control and strict familial structures, spending her days in silence and duty. When the two stumble across each other, an unexpected bond begins to form, and the narrative and the screenplay do a well-paced job of presenting an organic portrayal of the same. The performances further bolster the endeavor. 

When the friendship is just about to develop into something more meaningful, ideological differences about the ideas of caste and how they translate into one's lived reality afflict this equation. In the process, the film offers a relevant comment on how politics and one's differing approaches can completely alter an equation. The question that remains intrinsic to the narrative is whether our two characters would be able to overcome this chasm and find a common ground. The end result is a notable exploration of the same, presenting a definitive answer as the story concludes.

Do Sadkaan | Short Film of the Month

The film pivots on a night of drinking and partying gone horribly wrong, with the characters possessing little memory of what led to their current hapless situation. All of these progressions, however, are in direct contrast with the images that precede this moment, images presented to portray events leading back to this night. 

A very stylised, brightly yellow and upbeat space takes us into the life of three characters, Kishore, Harish and Raghu. The three are delivery executives, travelling high and low all over the city delivering packages. The developing events invoke a life of exploitation and hard work, but also of dreams and hopes, the dream of becoming a sub-inspector within the Indian police force. 
The cinematography and editing truly become the shining gems of the film, invoking several undercurrents that define these relationships and equations that may not have been apparent at first glance. A little laxness appears within the story as it inches towards the conclusion, but it pulls itself together in time for the climax, which takes the narrative home in a comprehensive manner.

Mugguru Monagaallu | Short Film of the Month

‘The Family Table’ is a disturbing film to watch, simply because of how unabashedly it holds a mirror up to society. The scene, theatrical at its core and approach, is of a dining table where a group enjoys a lavish meal, while a woman, the mother, serves the food in an anxious frenzy. 

The metaphors that the ensuing drama offers are not only crucial and powerful but also executed with seamlessness and ease. The writing, screenplay, performances, and swift camera movements all aid this portrayal. As the endless appetites of those at the table continue to grow, so does the anxiety and frenzy around it, leading to the most devastating and troubling conclusions. 

By way of its story, the film presents the dysfunctionality of a familial unit that simmers under the surface, threatening to spill over at the slightest provocation. The final result becomes a very comprehensive and cohesive whole, lucid in the communication of its ideas, and competent and sophisticated in the expression of its intentions.

The Family Table  | Short Film of the Month

The film opens on the first night of Decchi and Shanti’s wedding. The room is set for the consummation of the marriage, the bride awaits behind her (albeit suffocating) veil, and the groom’s mother has left the necessary measures recommended by the family priest, a pouch of elaichi, in the safe hands of her son. 

It is at this juncture of humor and playfulness that the film develops to present an endearing, heartfelt, and meaningful story about social restrictions, and more importantly, about how they operate differently for men and women. The narrative and screenplay are constructed with thoughtfulness to ensure that humor remains the guiding force throughout. 

Consequently, the message is carried forth with impact, without weighing the film down with preachiness. The characters are authentic and real in their flaws and textures, and are brought to life with notable performances and chemistry. The film communicates this with ease while also ensuring that the viewer is entertained and involved all along.

Elaichi | Short Film of the Month

After nine years in the service, tonight is a momentous one for Alok, a cop who is about to meet Manohar Pandey, a very crucial figure in the world he inhabits. As the plot develops, it presents a moral dilemma. Manohar begins to narrate a story from a couple of years ago, and a palpable intrigue takes over the film. Something is underfoot, something deeply amiss. 

As ideas of right and wrong, and an overarching sense of justice are painted for the viewer, the question that locates itself at the heart of the story becomes what is the best path of reaching the right decision - a traditional one, or something far more brutal? All of this is portrayed with remarkable writing, imbuing the narrative with authenticity, alongside a screenplay construction that enhances it with equal vigour. 

The performances are unmissable, and the background score is created with care. At the film’s conclusion awaits a terrible development, but one that is impossible to look away from.

Praarambh  | Short Film of the Month

A man who runs a small flour mill finds himself at a strange crossroads when technology threatens to make him obsolete. As we follow the protagonist through his day, and customers come and go, it is a sack of mass-produced, machine-ground wheat that becomes the antagonist of the story. 

The film does an expert job of portraying this dynamic between a man who religiously follows his vocation and a swiftly changing world where people become increasingly impatient. The screenplay is constructed with attention to detail, mapping and sustaining the entire developing story with control. The narrative allows no dialogue to the protagonist, and yet, shares a skilled portrayal and communication of an entire array of emotions. 

The end result does not bog itself down with a technology-versus-tradition conflict, and instead only presents a moment with earnestness. The entire cast and crew exhibit seamlessness in bringing it to life, making the authenticity of the said moment its most notable triumph.

Chakkiwala  | Short Film of the Month

A brutal world of cockfighting, equally powerful vocals, and a reality swiftly unfolding into chaos - these form the defining elements of the music video. What begins as an intensely charged moment of two groups of cockfighters devolves into absolute mayhem. As rivalry and bruised egos come to the fore, the characters reach a point of no return. 
The high-energy visuals are constructed with attention to detail and are equally matched by the Tulu song that plays next to all the action. A triumph in terms of the edit, one of the most notable aspects alongside the vocals, nestles itself within the end result, drawing you deeper and deeper into its world. This ensures there is no looking away as the spilled blood presents a movement from animals to humans, the violence stretching itself from one set of beings to another.

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