The documentary presents a world of scores and scores of clocks at first glance, and then introduces us to the man behind this fascinating collection, Anil Bhalla. 
 
Seventy-nine-year-old Mr Bhalla is an avid collector of not only clocks but also bikes and cars. Sometimes aided by his son, he nurtures his love for his collection, which was sparked off when his grandfather first brought back three clocks from overseas many decades ago. Presently, his collection stands at over 650 clocks. 

The short film weaves its screenplay with skill and care, presenting meaningful visuals that give a glimpse into all of these aspects of Mr Bhalla’s life. They are seamlessly tied with very intimate philosophies and beliefs. Though the narrative struggles to maintain its thematic concerns, moving from one object to another, and from an external activity to an internal journey of loss, it nevertheless presents a memorable protagonist and an insightful look into a life where each object holds immense significance.

As Time Goes By | Spotlight

The film opens with a mellow scene of a grandfather teaching a child about the values that shaped and built the life he leads now in a village of Maharashtra. The story then progresses to introduce the viewer to the child’s father, Namya. 

As each character is gradually introduced, a story develops with a conflict at its heart that is becoming increasingly common in our contemporary reality. Builders from Pune want to acquire more and more agricultural land, often by pressuring and arm-twisting the local farmers, and turn the fields into buildings of cement and concrete. 

By portraying two father-son equations, of Tatya and Ganga, and Namya and his Appa, the film explores the many anxieties and tensions that define this situation. The performances remain steadfast throughout, alongside skilled visuals that bring these ideas and relationships to life. The story further ropes in drama, punctuated with a little humor every now and then, to share all of this with audiences, finally concluding with an important social message.

Varasa | Spotlight

Trigger Warning: violence, assault, lynching 

The film presents a hard-hitting comment on society, and the violence and cruelty humankind is capable of. The narrative starts in a seemingly harmless manner, with a tone defined by sibling banter and exchange. The older brother lives in the city, and now, as he visits his village, he shares his experiences with his sister. The mood, however, darkens very swiftly as a group of young men begin to notice them, assuming them to be a romantic couple. As they draw more and more attention to this unsuspecting duo, a terribly brutal reality unfolds, which is portrayed with skill and strong performances. The screenplay conjures visuals which are sure to stay with the viewer for a long time. The film’s story models itself on a real-life incident to drive home the message about the brutal nature of mob violence, and the sadism that remains inherent to it.

Omanuh | Spotlight

The entirety of the story is the protagonist, Shini’s monologue, as she reflects on the idea of memory and the passage of time. Central to the narrative is a camera, which comes to play an important role in all of this. 
As Shini watches other people disregard her presence, until she eventually forces them together within the same frame, a memory is frozen in time. In the process, the film further becomes a rumination on an important contrast between the past and the present, a contrast that pertains not simply to the protagonist, but also, and very visibly so, to her surroundings. The same is achieved with visuals that show skill, and a screenplay that supports it in the same manner.

Click | Spotlight

The circuitous path of a mountainous landscape takes the viewer into Ladakh. As a man stands before a grave, his head bowed down, the past is invoked, portraying a life of hard physical labour, water and electricity problems, the determination of a boy to leave it all behind, and the resilience of a compassionate father who encourages him on this path. 
The film is the story of Issa and his son Ali, and how the duo navigates a difficult life while refusing to give in to the hardships. There is further the attempt to embellish it with a poetic approach that invokes a metaphorical internal journey, the divine, and its intrinsic presence in the social milieu of the film, alongside the presence of local folklore and witches. 
The most notable aspect of the end result is the performance of the protagonist, supported well by the young actor in Ali, alongside a very earnest desire to invoke a sense of the past, memory, grief, and how it all ties a character back to their origins and roots.

The Pilgrimage | Spotlight

The film presents an interesting overlap of the digital space with filmmaking. It positions two characters on the same plane - Simran, an aspiring actor on the sets of a film that has the power to launch her career, and Pia, a social media figure whose star is on a meteoric rise, and who works as an intimacy coordinator on the same film. 

Between the two stands Akaash who has helped Simran land this role in the first place. The choice of characters and the interpersonal equations the plot brings to life all present a dynamic array. The storytelling is further defined by an unmissable voice that engages with ideas of ambition and the insecurity that can often follow in its wake. 

Notwithstanding a little looseness in the screenplay, the final result is put together with thoughtfulness. The tonality evidences skill and the promise of further exploration of the themes and relationships thus presented in the film.

The First Break | Spotlight

The film opens on a seemingly mundane note, suggesting that it’s going to take us into a day in the life of the protagonist. However, as the story progresses, we realize this is anything but an ordinary day. It is the only day of its kind in decades, the plot underlines, while also conjuring a sense of the past alongside an emotional goodbye. All of this comes to pivot on a simple act of a character - the fifty-year-old protagonist making a cup of tea. 

While he may have owned a tea factory for decades, this is the first time he is making himself a cup. The act further marks an important evening. The screenplay is constructed with care, and the poignancy it evokes offers a single heartfelt moment. The film weaves all of it together, alongside a notable performance by its sole performer, to present a creative endeavor that not only exhibits potential and vision in terms of storytelling but also leaves one with the prospect of more such endeavors with a similar approach.

The Tea Factory | Spotlight

Two strangers strike an unlikely bond when they are pushed together into a circumstance in an even more unlikely manner. A pickpocket is entrapped by a young woman, also his greatest admirer, into teaching her what she views as his art and skill. 
Through the misadventures of the two, confined to a single night, the film presents a story that is marked by the devotion of its cast, a notable visual approach, and editing choices, alongside an equally complementary background score. The film remains true to its stylistic choices throughout, and though not entirely devoid of a few rough edges, the voice and storytelling exhibit not only deep potential but also freshness. 

While a pursuit that is as isolating as pickpocketing and theft is viewed as art by one, it simply remains an act of survival for the other. However, an unexpected moment of companionship is nestled within the many layers of the heist and the action that unfold before the viewer. The narrative does a sincere, meticulous job of achieving and portraying this moment.

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