Soon after it opens, the film presents a desperate knock on a door, one that sets the tone for what is to come, and what the thematic explorations are going to be. As Adamya stands at a literal doorstep, it also becomes a metaphor for his struggles as a student and son. After having performed poorly in his exams, he now battles the wrath of disappointed parents, as well as his own internal emotional turmoil. In the process, the film presents a wholehearted endeavor in engaging with how expectations to conform to the norms of society, in this particular case, of being a good student, can be extremely overwhelming. The narrative further invokes a conversation on the effects of all such stressors on mental health, and the crucial role an accepting support system can play. The storytelling experiments with its edit, screenplay, and plot construction, alongside being supported by a sincere performance of the protagonist, in portraying all of these ideas for the viewer.

Dastak | Spotlight

The lived reality of Indian housewives is often constituted by little to no worth of their emotional and physical labour towards the household. The inherent demand of them by society is also to often snuff out any dreams they may have harboured in the face of the will, needs and decisions of their family members, primarily the husband or the patriarch. The short film is an exploration of the same line of thought, taking the viewer into the life of a Marathi housewife ahead of the grand annual celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi. However, the expression of the narrative's concern is not done in an overly-sentimental or hackneyed manner. Instead, it intelligently ties it all together with a dance competition the protagonist wants to participate in, while keeping it all a secret from her husband. In a familial space and marriage where asking her husband for some money requires her to muster all her courage and truly justify and explain all the reasons behind it, a woman choosing to finally accept and embrace an activity that gives her happiness, is indeed an important and much-needed comment to be made. Additionally, there is an engagement with the idea of how women can empower one another, as well as the confidence, strength, peace and above all, liberation, one can find in an activity that they sincerely love.

Ghungru | Short Film Nominee

The film maps the developments over a period of one week and takes us into a unique relationship - unique for it only shows one partner throughout its duration. The romance is a budding one, and is marked by all the troughs and crests of such a relationship. From sudden expressions of love, to coolness that leads to conflict - it is complete with it all. As the story progresses, this conflict begins to make its presence felt more and more until it takes the form of indifference. The film is interesting in the revelation it eventually makes at the climax, after having been characterized by the ubiquitous presence of smartphones and technology to the extent of them being an obsession and addiction so far. It is also equipped with notable camerawork and elegant angles that exhibit skill and an ease with technique. As for the fate of the lovers that these visuals capture, which unexpected turn would their story take next?

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