In the face of all misogyny, sexism, classicism and women themselves participating in patriarchal oppression, it's a glass of juice which will become an agent of protest. The short film is the story of one evening and how that in itself is sufficient to delineate the normalisation of women's marginalisation. However, one day, when a woman decides to stand up and question it, will she be allowed the space to do so? Juice is a wholesome and skilful product which questions the grossly imbalanced gender equations. Shouldered by the most stellar performance by Shefali Shah, the film is undisputedly a very relevant, subtle and poignant piece of art on gender.

Juice | Short Film of the Day

This Manoj Bajpayee-starrer is a short-film weaved together by trippy visuals and groovy music by Nucleya. Taandav contrasts the humour in tragedy and vice-versa, much like the reality of our day-to-day lives. It's an interesting comment on expectations, duties, responsibility and ethics. Throw in a polished performance by Bajpayee and an equally talented supporting cast and voila! The perfect piece of art is ready.

Taandav | Manoj Bajpayee | Short Film of the Day

Kriti is a chill-inducing psychological thriller, sufficient to be the stuff of nightmares. Supplemented effortlessly by the brilliance of Manoj Bajpayee and Radhika Apte, the short film is intelligent and unpredictable. While most mainstream art struggles to discuss mental health, Kriti does it in the most subtle and adept manner. When a writer is plagued with a mental disorder, he might find solace in another writer who has mental health issues of her own. Looks like two people have found each other to even out their own imperfect edges, but the human mind is an interesting thing, and has something completely different up its sleeve. Ensure that you're safely tucked in bed, all doors are tightly shut and all lights switched on before you attempt find out what that is.

Kriti | Short Film of the Day

This short film, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and directed by Nandita Das, works as the perfect prelude to the full-length feature film Manto soon to make an appearance on the silver screen. Nawazuddin is as convincing as Manto in the film as he has been in all of his prior roles. The film is a deep and insightful commentary on society which attempts to hide its vulgarities and inherent contradictions by attacking the artist who simply holds a mirror to it. It's not the art which is ugly, but the reflection of the critic who attacks the former with misguided rage. If nothing at all, In Defence of Freedom, handled extremely elegantly by Das, simply succeeds in compelling the viewer to start a conversation with the self and its location in society.

In Defence Of Freedom | Short Film of the Day

Trigger warning: The purpose of art is to reflect all that is wrong with society, to trigger thoughts that lead to reformative action. Agli Baar succeeds in doing precisely that - holding up the mirror to a very ugly reality of the world we live in. Not for the emotionally fragile, the short film is for an audience which is willing to swallow the bitter truths of a society divided on the lines of religion, class and a mindlessly rigid sense of community. It further invokes the idea that while we may choose to ignore them and be mute spectators to the wrongs being done around us, we are not immune to the agents of evil which may target us next.

Agli Baar | Short Film of the Day

This Rajkumar Rao-starrer will leave you gasping for breath by the end of it. Remind yourself to not feel choked by the futility of human conflict, often arising out of empty causes we lead ourselves to believe in. This brilliant short-film further shows that, if deluded, people can behave in the most absurd, cruel manner. Bombay Mirror leaves the audience with a powerful message, that some things ARE very obviously black and white and should be openly condemned. Watch this Shlok Sharma piece of art to find out what they are.

Bombay Mirror | Short Film of the Day

The short film, most subtle in its approach, with subdued sounds and a muted palette, makes a very powerful comment about marginalisation, gender and mother-daughter relationships. The protagonist of the film is a little girl narrating the story of her birth mother, adopted mother and now her journey to a boarding school. The sequencing of the visual narrative is very important in telling this story and is used judiciously by the filmmaker. The second most significant tool is the equally skilled voiceover of the protagonist that supplements the visuals most impactfully. Add to all of this the fact that the film tells a true story, and it becomes a very wholesome product that will ring true and deep with the viewer.

Generations of Care | Short Film of the Day

Women's accessibility to public spaces is fraught with threats of molestation, street sexual harassment and sometimes even far worse. The film attempts to draw attention to this limited space that is allowed to women, and how the entire society, from family and friends, to colleagues and complete strangers, are implicit in reducing it further. The narrative makes the most skilled use of hand-held shots, tight frames and dim lighting to drive this message home. It's written in a manner that makes the viewer deeply invested in the fear and the anger of the three main characters. As their families tell them to avoid stepping out and confronting their harassers, the women find their strength in each other. However, more than trusting each other, they have to find that strength and trust in themselves. Once they manage to conquer the enemy within, there is little they cannot defeat without, emphasises the film.

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