The film ties together violence with the innocence of childhood as well as the complete incapability of adults to comprehend or reconcile the two. The story opens with a little boy murdering the pets in his house. The concerned Brahmin parents of Pablo thus reach out to their spiritual leader to take him under her wing and perhaps 'mend' his ways. The narrative provides a glimpse into upper class Brahmanism with its absolute faith in its religious structures. Consequently, the adults in-charge of the situation, much like the viewer, fail to assess the true cause behind the child's radical acts. The film deserves full points for the handling and execution of this aspect of the story, albeit a little too soft in the sound department. However, when the revelation finally arrives, would you be truly prepared for it?

Pablo | Short Film of the Day

Gulab Kothari of Madhya Pradesh wants to teach his young, reluctant son the art of playing taashe, a widely celebrated musical instrument in the vicinity. Desperate to pass on his family lineage, he forces Shiv to sit with him and learn the instrument. However, nothing helps the old father until Shiv witnesses a young girl dancing gracefully to the beat of taashe. 
Immediately, Shiv is in complete awe of the sweet girl, Jugni and decides to impress her by learning the instrument. He starts to look after his appearance, tires his father out by long, multiple lessons and even starts to save money to buy Jugni a pair of ghungru. Little does our young protagonist realize that amidst his innocent fantasies and dreams, rests a grotesque ugliness of the adult world. Right when his plans are about to achieve their goal, a staggering conclusion awaits the narrative, one that changes things in a lasting manner for the little boy, and leaves the audience with a pressing social message.

Taashe | Short Film Nominee

Attempting a comment on the vagaries and ironies of life, the short film centers all its drama and progression around a single, inanimate object - a lamppost. As the street light watches over the world and its many injustices, the narrative offers its two cents on the inequality of the world, often taking the form of domestic abuse, prostitution and perhaps a child losing his innocence all too soon. However, amidst all that is wrong with our lives and times, there is also a suggestion of hope, and a sense of warmth which is invoked by the ideas of companionship, friendship and kindness. While all of it might not be explicitly spelled out, with the film allowing itself only an echo of the same, the message still remains lucid and unequivocal.

Lamppost | Short Film Nominee

Patriarchy, sexism and misogyny often work in tandem to the point of depriving a woman completely of agency, especially if she's a housewife who is financially dependent on her husband. The film is an exploration of the same dynamics by introducing us to the story of an average Indian household. It is a loving family of three members and the scene is of a rushed morning when, as the mother prepares the food, and the father hurries to leave for work, their daughter comes home to visit them. Amidst the worries to marry her off to a suitable partner, and the constant push and pull between parents and children that is common in many houses, another narrative develops. The father has a secret that threatens to throw this household completely out of balance, and this is when the daughter decides to ensure her mother is no longer subjected to the same fixed dictums of a patriarchal set-up she has already had to give up so much for. The film also has a message about second chances and people's ability to redeem themselves once they have been led to the realisation of the wrongs done by them. At the heart of the story remains an important reminder for the viewer and the manner they have been conditioned to see the world, often at the cost of the happiness and mental peace of innumerable women.

Suta | Short Film Nominee

Age and desire are often confined by each other in the Indian society. The short film uses the same as its premise to talk about companionship and its need at all stages of life, irrespective of the age of the person. It is early morning when a man prepares breakfast for his two sons. Clearly a male-only household, the family has a deep conflict brewing under the surface of the daily routine before they all head out for work. The sons are unhappy with their father's relationship with a woman, worried about what society and relatives might say if they find out. The story engages with the concern and leaves the viewer with a positive, much needed message about judgment and stereotypes prevalent in the world we live in, as well as a suggestion to overcome them.

Upma | Short Film Nominee

Quirky and full of life, Khushboo is one of the leading employees of an architecture firm and has been recently assigned the task of preparing and presenting a pitch to a renowned client. However, she has a medical condition which takes away her control on a basic bodily function - flatulence. 
Owing to the social stigma and general comedic tone suggested associated the same, Khushboo is embarrassed and mocked at her presentation. Sad and belittled, she returns home to her dad who comforts and motivates her to be strong in the face of such insignificant adversities. Khushboo decides to explain her point of view, and finds a way to express the same to a large number of audience. In the process, the narrative becomes a celebration of not only the protagonist's courage and honesty, but also a reminder of society to be more accepting of one another. As for Khushboo, something uplifting and heartwarming awaits her at the end of it all.

Humari Khushboo | Short Film Nominee

As we get tied up in the responsibilities and the many roles that have to be played in adulthood, we often neglect, and sometimes even choose to forget, a crucial part of our identity - the innocence and lightheartedness of the child within us. It is precisely this spirit of carefreeness that keeps us going even in the most difficult circumstances, ensuring that we never lose perspective. The short film engages with these thoughts to bring to life a narrative with an unexpected course and movement. Yogi, a man in his fifties, one day stumbles across a child who refuses to leave his side. First he asks him for a lift, then he somehow finds his way to our protagonist's home where he enjoys a hearty meal. When the protagonist gets suspicious of his activities, he turns the curious child away from his house with a warning. However, as life would have it, he is still unable to sleep in peace and finds his way back to the same child again. Once he brings him back home, the two spend the night chatting, eating ice cream, until the protagonist eventually falls asleep. When Yogi wakes up in the morning, a revelatory development awaits both him and the viewer, allowing the film its final endeavor to successfully present its intentions to the viewer.

Chhotu | Short Film Nominee

It is the film’s sincere attempt to utilize an entire spectrum of emotions. From horror to humor, to drama and an educational element of a commentary on society, all of these are aimed at being included within the story. 

The setting is of a late hour one night when a man sits at his desk, pouring his emotions into poetry. However, very soon he is visited by a very unusual and unexpected guest. It is then in the ensuing conversation that all the themes and emotions of the narrative are explored. Alongside the conversation that develops between the two characters, there is another important conversation that is unfolding with the self. The conclusion eventually offers and unpacks the overlap of these two parallel threads.

A Night With a Ghost | Short Film Nominee

The film does a sincere and dedicated effort to draw attention to a very important concern in society - one of water conservation. It further localises it to a particular kind - the water wastage at construction sites. The protagonist of the film is a powerful man who finds his mind preoccupied with land deals of several crores. However, when he sees a tap from where water is gushing out unattended, he is reminded of a memory from the past, when his mother had to work extremely hard for even little droplets. Consequently, he feels little hesitation in getting out of his car and fixing it himself. The film reminds the viewer of the significance of doing their bit for the environment and to forever respect and protect it like their own mother.

Roots | Short Film Nominee

The short film hopes to leave its audience with a positive message. It talks of constructive anger and putting it to good use. When a man finds his car hit by a passer-by, he is infuriated and ready to pick up a fight. However, the person who has hit the car, on the contrary, is an image of calmness. The film further reveals him to be a part of the Indian Army who has seen much worse situations, without showing anything close to the anger of the man currently. The film concludes with the message of using your emotions in a manner that leads to the better of those around you.

Dr (Er) Azad Jain

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