A wonderful short film by Girliyapa, Kanika is a poignant take on a type of crime most prevalent in India. The narrative builds up gradually, taking its time, yet keeping the viewer glued all along. As it progresses, you realise that, in the most disturbing manner, it's far from what you expected. What starts off as a romantic story of two seemingly star-crossed lovers soon takes a disconcertingly dark turn at the climax. The film's production quality and the mature handling of a very intense subject deserve a special mention. Also backed by skilled cinematography and a strong voiceover, Kanika will definitely stay with you long after you've watched it.

Kanika | Short Film of the Day

On the edge of a huge marshy land, three young boys are playing the game of cricket with a hard rubber ball and a twisted tree branch for a bat. While they seem to be enjoying the game, the tense, continuous ‘ring’ in the background sets up a somber and suspenseful mood. The two older boys, Amol and Bittu, pick on Anshu by tossing the ball in far off places, perhaps in an attempt to get rid of him. 
As the innocent boy trails into the tall grass to find the ball, the film cuts to his home where his widowed mother is putting together rice on a wooden chulha. She asks Amol, who is engrossed in a toy, about his younger brother’s whereabouts and after receiving no concrete reply, steps out with a lamp. Concerned and scared, she looks for her boy in the pitch-dark woods accompanied with an unsettling chirping of crickets. During the search, she comes across mysterious, strange incidents - a religious sacrifice, an accident, a loss; narrating a deeper story than intended. 
Inspired by true events, the film appeals to the protectiveness and love of parents, and how more often than not, as kids, we fail to acknowledge and appreciate them for their efforts.

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