Off it goes, running at bullet speed. Make sure to watch closely or before you know, you'll miss it! We are talking about the Mumbai locals of course, a serpentine, labyrinthine transport network that has its roots deeply embedded all across the city. It won't be erroneous to say that Mumbai-wallahs romanticise the locals in the same manner in which the rest of the country romanticise the Indian railways. It also won't be incorrect to say that Bombai offers the most beautiful and honest version of it. Voiced by Bharti Sachin Jadhav, the short film uses skilful cinematography and a sophisticated background score to tell the story of the Mumbai locals which is not very different from the commuters who take it every day. As one particular local shares her story with the viewer, you realise that, after all, her aspirations, memories, hopes and daily struggles are same as any other commuter. The city might have changed, but the local continues to run unaltered, forming the stable backbone of Mumbai.

Bombai | Short Film of the Day

The music video is a beautiful product that utilises stop motion most efficiently. The narrative is based on the poetry of Sufi poet and philosopher Baba Bulleh Shah. The visuals are crafted elegantly, making the intense stop-motion flow look effortless and not the mean task it can prove to be. The sentiment it attempts to explore is one of losing oneself in the love for a new place, be it mental or physical, and indeed the progression of the images succeeds in achieving that. This is further backed by wonderful vocals, a contemporary rendition of the words of the bard, all presented to the viewer in a well-rounded wholesome product.

Gum Huye Hum | Short Film of the Day

The entirety of the narrative unfolds in the form of a recitation of a letter that a father is writing to his daughter. Gradually and organically, taking its time to come into its own, this narration reveals small, but integral details to the viewer. From a task as mundane as making the morning tea, to a father's disappointment at finding his daughter's room empty, the film uses seemingly inane characteristics of every day life to weave a poignant story. As the letter develops, emotions of regret and guilt as a result of hasty decisions taken out of anger, surface and allow another layer and texture to the narrative. While being a story of societal pressures and shackles, of familial conflict and rebellion, the film concludes with a pertinent social message about acceptance and love, managing to involve and catch the audience by surprise in the process.

Roohi | Short Film of the Day

Short films that manage to simply capture and freeze a moment in time, and nothing more, are often sufficient to successfully tell an important story without needing any further embellishments. Didi! is a wonderful example of the same proposition. It is crisp, taut and surprisingly sweet in its storytelling, and the manner in which it portrays its characters and the relationship they share. The first dialogue in the film is an annoyed calling out to an elder sister, "Didi!". The first sound is that of a screeching alarm clock early in the morning. The way these two will get tied together to reveal the true motivations of the story will leave you with a heartwarming message about siblings, the wistfulness for a time whose value you realise only when it has passed and a beautiful bond that exists between two individuals as they move from one stage of their life to another, all the while deeply caring for each other.

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