The short film is essentially a conversation between two women who sit across each other as equals in a static, wide frame that serves to further accentuate this equality. However once you enter the universe of the film, you realise that they are far from being equals, separated from each other on the basis of their social location. Yet the two have managed to achieve a common plane as married women. Delivery Girl is an exploration of internalised patriarchy and how sometimes the biggest instruments of it are women themselves. It further draws attention to the fact that women are not the only victims of it, but men too suffer under a patriarchal set-up. Additionally, it reminds the viewer that gender equality is not an ideology to be believed in as long it's convenient to do so. The two women, played convincingly by Vaibhavi Upadhyay and Krutika Deo, communicate all of this to the viewer through a single conversation. However, despite being written beautifully and effortlessly, the predictability of the plot becomes a weakness of the film.

Delivery Girl  | Short Film of the Day

Ahead of Father’s Day, Blush’ latest offering is about a nervous, newly married’s woman’s relationship with her father-in-law. The narrative is plotted against the background of an India-Pakistan cricket match. As they watch the match together, the memory of the 1996 World Cup, where India and Pakistan played in the same team against Sri Lanka, is invoked. While reminding the viewer of a heartwarming memory in the history of the World Cup, the young woman finds a similar emotional space with her father-in-law that she had once found wit her own father. Released amidst the World Cup hysteria that has gripped the nation, the short film is simple, endearing and makes for a wholesome watch.

Unexpected Partnership | Short Film of the Day

‘Rubaroo’ applies an interesting approach to its visual development which ensures that the punch of the film truly lands. The plot has set out to convey an important social message, one about cruel, brutal acid attacks carried out against women in India. 

The communication of the message is achieved with swift narratorial progression, as well as a strong performance, most crucial for the triumph of the film. Together the various elements come forth to present a powerful narrative which, in turn, succeeds in telling an urgent story.

Rubaroo | Short Film of the Day

The short film has done the unthinkable - it has attributed sexuality to Indian mothers. This Mother's Day, it provides us with a much needed conversation on the intimate desires of a woman, irrespective of her age. As is true of many Blush videos, this one too intuitively raises questions on behalf of the audience - how can a middle aged mother have these desires? Is this even expected from her? How can she procure a sex toy? - and answers them all. It is wonderful in the manner it shows a confident woman, embracing her sexuality with no guilt or shame, and reminds the viewer that a woman's sexuality is no one's business except hers.

Risky Business | Short Film of the Day

When you deal with a topic like gender, there is the danger of running into repetition and monotony. The content around the topic has set the bar very high and a film has to be especially unique to eschew these problems. It would be safe to say that Kahi Suni, the second episode of the series - Sisterhood Tales by Blush, comes midway in this journey. When it starts, it does not set the horizon of expectation too high - it's the story of yet another woman who's trying to balance work with her family's expectations. However the short film becomes a little more interesting as she sits in her cab to find a woman driver. From there, the narrative only goes higher and higher. During the course of her ride, she also finds out that the driver is specially abled. In the process, the film leaves the viewer with a subtle but impactful message about how we view people who are different from us. It further reiterates that simply by standing up for each other, we can make our struggles easier, even if slightly so.

Kahi Suni | Short Film of the Day

Despite the presence of Article 15 in the Indian Constitution, which forbids discrimination of people based on their religion, caste and creed, the contemporary reality in the country is far from it. This video with Ayushmann Khurana calls out the same. Ahead of the release of his film Article 15, it becomes one of the many similar videos Khurrana has been doing with other publications. In terms of treatment, the video is simple and straight. The writing is constituted by powerful poetry, questioning the status quo. It earns full points for being thought provoking and impactful, albeit not standing out for its visuals, art direction and overall execution.

Article 15 - Throne Of Equal Opportunities | Short Film of the Day

Right from the start till the very end, the short film keeps the viewer guessing. The unpredictability becomes one of its most prominent strength in the process. This is coupled with endearing performances and convincing writing that is associated with much of Culture Machine's content. The film attempts to explore the dynamics of a modern day workplace and how it ties up with the personal life of a young girl. However, no matter how topsy-turvy things may go, as long as there's a non-judgmental friend who enables you by being a sounding board and a voice of reason, there is little that can't be fixed, won't you agree?

About Last Night | Short Film of the Day

The short film does a good job of convincing you of its predictability, and then an even better one of proving you wrong. It’s the story of one afternoon where a solo trip is being discussed by a mother and daughter duo over a cup of tea. The mother has apprehensions of what it is to begin while the daughter is convinced of what a wonderful experience it is to be by yourself. Not entirely subtle in its messaging, the short film leaves you with a reminder to be kinder to your parents, especially when they forget it themselves.

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