If one were to put it simply, the film is an engagement with the deepest human desire (need?) to find their roots, and to feel loved and a sense of belonging. Be it in the form of a forbidden romance that truly makes you feel like yourself, or seeking closure for a lost memory, to rekindle it to lead to a brighter future, the desire to find and nurture yourself is undeniable, even in the face of all adversity and obstacles, underlines the narrative. By invoking two parallel plot lines, of the past and the present, and bringing to life two generations on screen, the film shares this story with the viewer in Tanisha Rai's notable voice. The thematic concerns are heard loudly and clearly for the audience to experience and participate in, allowing Baba's Black Sheep to become a wholesome, wonderful film, leaving the door open with promise of more such products by the team. The film, however, would have benefited from closer attention to its sound.

Baba's Black Sheep | Short Film of the Month

The story of the film is about several things - it is about bereavement, the consequent grief, trauma and what it means to always be at war with your loved ones regarding the decisions of your life. Its title, which loosely translates to make-belief, further offers a comment on how several restrictions that truly hold us back, find a home inside our minds first, even before they achieve a physical manifestation. The film employs beautiful visuals to share its intentions and a plot that is notable for its thrill and the unpredictability of the direction it is headed in. It is for this reason that while the narrative might first give the impression of being a drama, it soon unfolds to reveal a darker reality - one of violence, overpowering authority figures, the duress of forever being under scrutiny and the disturbing outcome it might eventually result in, allowing it to be an engaging, relevant, as well as entertaining product.

Mangadhant | Short Film of the Day

Our first interaction with the film is marked by a sense of grief, bleakness and a woman sitting by herself in a shadowy room. The rest of the story then becomes a movement to this point by portraying all the events that preceded it. It introduces us to the said woman and her husband. They discuss the financial trouble their son is in due to the pandemic, and decide to help him out. 

After selling their house and whatever little jewellery they had collected throughout their lives, they head out to be with him. It is at this point that we are taken into Shrawan's life which is far from what his parents or the viewer has believed so far. Through high intensity drama and sentimentalism, the narrative shares its intentions with the audience.

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