Set in the near future, a dystopia where complete totalitarianism and misogyny rule over the state, the short film revolves around the courage and strength of one woman. The protagonist is an acclaimed Bharatnatyam dancer who is forcibly removed from her family. Her memories are erased and she is thrown in a hellish jail, the Cell. For her, like many other inhabitants of the Cell, the crime was being more independent and successful than her male counterpart. 
Soon, the protagonist starts to remember glimpses of her past - a disapproving husband, arguments with her daughter, but more importantly her art, her dance. The narrative does a notable job of communicating all of these emotions, and tying them with the most effortless and skilled dance sequence. The intense performance, with graceful yet hard-hitting movements, thus becomes an expression of revolt against oppression and patriarchy. As the protagonist conjures a fluidity and litheness of the body on screen, the message is allowed a fitting portrayal for the viewer to engage with.

Colors: Saffron | Short Film of the Day

Sravaka is an extremely successful dancer who is in want of nothing. Fame, success, and recognition lie at her feet, and yet, something disturbs her deeply. 

Unable to sleep or eat, she finds herself taking refuge in pills and constantly rushing back to her past. Her frequent visits to her guru ji, one whose existence is marked by poverty and isolation, push forth the narrative as it engages with philosophical questions regarding an artist’s relationship with their art, the fear of anonymity, the eternal quest for immortality, and what it means to achieve worldly success, even if at the cost of being dishonest as an artist. These ideas are portrayed with a close-knit union with dance sequences, crafted, choreographed, and performed most seamlessly and gracefully. 

There is further an earnest desire to explore the darker realm of success, especially for a dancer who is not only of a different nationality than her art form but has also seen turbulence in her former life. While a few raw edges appear in terms of the screenplay and the visual representation of some of the exchanges between the characters, the film’s core remains devoted throughout in its effort to seek meaning in existence and success vis-a-vis art.

Slow Rivers | Short Film Nominee

The film is the story of a woman who has deprioritized her dreams for a life of duties and responsibilities. It is interesting to see a narrative talk of a character’s passions and hopes that are not simply confined to her family, despite the love and affection she has for them. The protagonist, Kavitha, is portrayed as a person of her own even in the face of all her responsibilities. 

As all Savitha Sastry films, the highlight of this one too remains the dance sequences which truly ensure you are unable to take your eyes off the screen. However, it does take flight from the films so far in the manner in which it touches upon a Western dance form, even if briefly. The story also endeavors to conjure lighthearted humor, along with drama and a sweet portrayal of the support of a loving family. While the writing and the narratorial progression could have been smoother, the film remains sincere and honest in everything that it offers.

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