What happens if you get stuck in a time warp while the rest of the world continues at its pace? What if your worst nightmare comes alive - you keep arriving at the wrong metro station over and over again before an important meeting? There is indeed no escaping the cyclical nature of our existence, maybe, after all, we are stuck in a time warp of sorts. This short film by Pranav Gandhe invokes all of these thoughts while also revealing the dark underbelly of a corporate life in a metropolitan city. Time moves swiftly here and enslaves us; all other activities have to keep up with it. The same cycle continues on and on in an endless fashion and there is no escaping it.

Endless | Short Film of the Day

Reunion is a story of closure, obtained years after separation. This short film by Google is very well directed and crafted, especially how it captures the power of Google Search in daily life. The actors are good, as is the wonderful background track by Piyush Mishra, Bachpane ki tang gali. Go visit your childhood.

Reunion | Short Film of the Day

Shame attempts to be a powerful narrative about the struggle of a woman to feel accepted, loved and beautiful. As she goes around cleaning rooms at the hotel she works at, her feelings often find an outlet in voyeurism and sneaky glances into the lives of the guests. The film is a comment on how class adds to the oppression of a woman who may not fulfill conventional beauty standards. Despite strong performances by Swara Bhasker and Ranvir Shorey, Shame falls short of delivering all that it promises. While it wants to leave the audience with the message that often the only thing stopping you from being all that you can be is your own crippling sense of shame, the events leading to this conclusion are not convincing. Full points to the intention, but that does not take away from the fact that the sudden change in the character trajectory of the protagonist comes as an implausible plot development.

Shame | Short Film of the Day

Many have attempted tying poetry with visuals to drive home a message, yet very few succeed as gloriously as this short film by Roshnee Desai. The storytelling progression adopted by the narrative goes on to prove that irrespective of how old the story is, the manner of telling it makes all the difference. Another strength of the video is how it invokes in the viewer the memory of several impeccable video treatments that came before it - from Arctic Monkeys' Do I Wanna Know to, closer home, Kalki Koechlin's Noise. However, at the same time, it manages to stand out with its very own intrinsic uniqueness. If it can be said in fewer words, it should be said in fewer words, and Cover Up goes ahead to prove how magical this formula can be when used skilfully. There is a reason why the subject of the film has not been mentioned so far in the review. Simply put, it's just another product that talks about the patriarchal oppression of women, in both overt and inert ways. But that's not what the video (or this review) is about. It's about the power of art and the extent of its impact. Full points to Desai for using this for its full potential while making the whole process look effortless.

Cover Up | Short Film of the Day

The short film is the story of a young architect Nisha, who has been recently married into the Sarabhai family. As she prepares for her first Diwali as part of the new family, she treads a narrow line between protecting her identity and fulfilling the expectations of others. The event managers have been fixed, the saree is ready and guests are about to start coming in. As she is about to step out as a Sarabhai hostess, will Nisha be able to strike a balance between her individuality and what she sees as her duty towards her new family?

Besan Ke Laddoo | Shweta Tripathi, Anuj Sachdeva | Short Film of the Day

This beautifully shot music video, a romance with winters, mountains and snow, will win you over every time you watch it. The melodious voice of The Local Train's lead vocalist Raman Negi makes the song soulful as well as catchy. With scenic shots of mountains and the overwhelming nature, Dil Mere is the perfect winter song to be enjoyed with a hot cup of coffee on a cold, quiet night. 

Dil Mere | Short Film of the Day

This Anurag Kashyap-starrer is a story of one night in the life of a woman who has returned home with a date. Everything seems to be going fine, but something unexpected waits right around the corner. While her date takes a turn for the worse, the viewer is introduced to another aspect of her life she has been trying to move on from for a while. But is there an end, a release in sight for her? The answer is available for the viewer who sticks out till the end. The beautiful cinematography and the effortless progression of the narrative would ensure this turns out to be an easy task. With balance, skill and the right amount of colour, the frames also have plot details for the more attentive viewer. Further, the film earns extra points for unexpected doses of humour; for instance, in the manner in which an unwitting character finds himself tied up (quite literally) in the embroglio of two lovers. The whole film is also supported by a background score several would find familiar. It performs well on all fronts, but the same cannot be said for the story and writing. Additionally, the performances are not extraordinary, much like the rest of the film. However, when all of it is put together, one might be convinced to overlook the weaknesses of Fool for Love.

Fool for Love | Short Film of the Day

What are the stories and daily struggles that Mumbai, the city of dreams, as they call it, hides behind its shininess and the hustle bustle? The short film attempts to unearth just one of the many. The narrative makes its way through pain, poverty and survival, finally culminating into hope and the indomitable human spirit which would fight against all odds. The story of a vada pav vendor at a local station becomes an ode to this city which harbours diversity, respect for survival and above all, kindness.

₹5 Vada Pav Wala | Short Film of the Day

When you step out of the house, how much time do you spend in deciding your outfit with respect to the space you’re going to be in? If you’re a woman, chances are the criteria of determining it are endless. From the time of the day to the people you are going to be with to how you’re feeling about your body - the list goes on. The sadder part is that most of these concerns have been internalised to the point that now they are not even conscious questions, but simply second nature. Breaking all of these moulds and reminding women that they have a right to wear whatever in the world they want to is this new ad film. Set to an upbeat track, it shows women in different situations and wearing bright, vibrant colours. From flats to heels, from cropped tops to kurtas - here’s a video that finally says, behen, kuch bhi pehen.

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