The film is about a romantic rendezvous of Aaisha and Hari. Aaisha’s parents have gone out for a wedding, and are unlikely to return the same night. Finding herself alone at home, she calls Hari over and soon ensues an evening of surprises, expressions of affection, lovers' spats, and some more. 
 
Interestingly, the storytelling makes a deliberate choice to not preoccupy itself with the religious identities of its characters, or the interfaith nature of the relationship. Instead, it engages with the location of sex and intimacies between two lovers. By making this choice, the plot manages to bring in a distinct voice in its development. 
'Blue Fishes Turned Red' remains earnest in the portrayal of all of this and presents the viewer with an honest, sincere story about the many forms of intimacies and everything they could mean for different people. In its achievement of the same, the narrative, and the subsequent screenplay, are constructed with care, further supported by the film's notable visual language and performances.

Blue Fishes Turned Red | Short Film Nominee

The narrative primarily deals with the isolation and despair of a boy who has recently gotten his heart broken. With the opening visual of a snake slithering over his body as he hyperventilates in fear, the film takes the viewer deeper into his loneliness. The visuals are dim lit and empty with the surroundings being a direct echo of the protagonist's emotional state. As he is gripped by all-consuming love, there is no other companion to be found in the house except for the grim, dejected looking bust of a man, quietly observing the scene from the margins. The film draws attention to a deeply stigmatised aspect of society that leads to the misery and agony of countless people. As relationships get mired in the desperate need to achieve societal acceptance and a burning desire to stick to the normative, what would be the fate of so many who dare to step out of this structure? The film raises the same question and complements its visuals with a notable soundtrack and performances to drive its message home.

Yours Truly | Short Film Nominee

It’s the last day of the summer holidays, and two boys decide to make the most of it. From spilled milk to video game parlors to adults who would just not stop talking, the boys encounter them all. Their movement through all of these activities and events allows the film’s narrative to develop in a sweet, endearing manner. The writing portrays the naïveté of childhood, as well as the darkness of the adult world that awaits just at the periphery, waiting to draw them in - be it in the form of swindler fortune tellers or something far more serious like sexual assault. Each moment gets the attention it deserves, finally presenting a tale of a single day. Even if a little raw at the edges, the film remains steadfast in the ideas and intentions it presents.

Ram Shankar

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