A wonderful short film, Doodho Nahao Pooto Phalo is made of the simplest, but deeply touching moments. The story, straight at first glance, unfolds to reveal the complexities of attachment, fidelity and hurt. At the heart of the film by MensXP is the love story of Nikhil and Radhika, portrayed in the most beautiful manner by the actors. Adding an extra flavour to it is a grumpy grandmother, an endearing domestic help and an annoying younger sibling. Amidst all of this is a hassled mother, eager to get her daughter to like the boy and vice versa. As the situation unravels despite her best efforts, the viewer is left smiling at the innocent manner of storytelling of DNPP.

Doodho Nahao Pooto Phalo | Short Film of the Day

The short film is a lovely, quiet delineation of the struggle of two men in Mumbai. It draws a wonderful and intelligent parallel between the stories of Rahi and Gurpreet who both moved to the city of dreams in pursuit of success in their respective careers. The intelligence of the narrative becomes most pronounced when it addresses the notions and deeply-set structures of class in the Indian society while talking about these characters. Despite the difference in their societal location, both Rahi and Gurpreet have similar battles to fight and demons to overcome that threaten to devour their hopes and aspirations. The film is a well-rounded product with elegant camerawork, strong performances and effortlessly smooth story-telling. If all of this wasn't sufficient to make it succeed, it further manages to make a deeply moving point about professional obstacles, class divisions and chasing your dreams, without making its propositions preachy, didactic or blatant.

Gunta  | Short Film of the Month

This short film, another offering by MensXP's Love on the Rocks series, takes us into a night when a girl walks into a cafe that is closing. Taken by her charm, the owner doesn't turn her away. With all the staff gone, there's only him trying to single-handedly serve coffee, spaghetti, squeeze in some conversation with his restaurant guest, while occasionally breaking the fourth wall to address the audience. Table for Two is a mellow short film with soulful music to match the vibe invoked by the story and its characters. While the protagonist initially comes across as pestering, is a change in his character trajectory possible?

Table For Two | Short Film of the Day

The film attempts to be a soulful narrative about the experiences in love of two people. The visuals are set in a beautiful valley of Himachal Pradesh. Though a cool palette of perfect greens and blues might be ready, shooting outdoors in natural light can often be a tough nut to crack, which is perhaps where the cinematography could have been better. The story exhibits brief moments of uniqueness, struggling to surface, but the transitions, performances and colour correction do not aid them sufficiently. The product is an ambitious endeavour and deserves brownie points simply for that.

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