The film is about a romantic rendezvous of Aaisha and Hari. Aaisha’s parents have gone out for a wedding, and are unlikely to return the same night. Finding herself alone at home, she calls Hari over and soon ensues an evening of surprises, expressions of affection, lovers' spats, and some more. 
 
Interestingly, the storytelling makes a deliberate choice to not preoccupy itself with the religious identities of its characters, or the interfaith nature of the relationship. Instead, it engages with the location of sex and intimacies between two lovers. By making this choice, the plot manages to bring in a distinct voice in its development. 
'Blue Fishes Turned Red' remains earnest in the portrayal of all of this and presents the viewer with an honest, sincere story about the many forms of intimacies and everything they could mean for different people. In its achievement of the same, the narrative, and the subsequent screenplay, are constructed with care, further supported by the film's notable visual language and performances.

Blue Fishes Turned Red | Short Film Nominee

The narrative primarily deals with the isolation and despair of a boy who has recently gotten his heart broken. With the opening visual of a snake slithering over his body as he hyperventilates in fear, the film takes the viewer deeper into his loneliness. The visuals are dim lit and empty with the surroundings being a direct echo of the protagonist's emotional state. As he is gripped by all-consuming love, there is no other companion to be found in the house except for the grim, dejected looking bust of a man, quietly observing the scene from the margins. The film draws attention to a deeply stigmatised aspect of society that leads to the misery and agony of countless people. As relationships get mired in the desperate need to achieve societal acceptance and a burning desire to stick to the normative, what would be the fate of so many who dare to step out of this structure? The film raises the same question and complements its visuals with a notable soundtrack and performances to drive its message home.

Yours Truly | Short Film Nominee

It’s the last day of the summer holidays, and two boys decide to make the most of it. From spilled milk to video game parlors to adults who would just not stop talking, the boys encounter them all. Their movement through all of these activities and events allows the film’s narrative to develop in a sweet, endearing manner. The writing portrays the naïveté of childhood, as well as the darkness of the adult world that awaits just at the periphery, waiting to draw them in - be it in the form of swindler fortune tellers or something far more serious like sexual assault. Each moment gets the attention it deserves, finally presenting a tale of a single day. Even if a little raw at the edges, the film remains steadfast in the ideas and intentions it presents.

One of Those Days | Short Film Nominee

The short film is an ambitious attempt to comment on life and the manner it progresses in. Inspired by still frames that do not rely on excessive use of props or a detailed colour palette, the visuals are set against an instrumental soundtrack. It further attempts to portray the arbitrariness of life as well as its unstopping, forever forward moving trajectory. All of this is conveyed in this Dheeraj Sharma product using the image of a dead rat. As its dead body is flung from one corner to another, there is a reminder that the strange images that constitute life continue to move at their pace, clinically indifferent to the events around them.

Chitra Vichitra | Short Film Nominee

A carpenter is in desperate need of cash for the urgently-needed medical care of his infant. He tries to borrow cash from his friend, but is unable to connect with him. Additionally, his boss not only refuses to give him leave, but also denies him the desperately sought monetary help. Still, the protagonist leaves for the nearest ATM where he finds a woman who requests him to withdraw money on her behalf. 
The next set of events include the protagonist and the woman ending up in a conversation. She soon shares the story of her tragic life after losing both her husband and son who were war veterans. As they journey together, a common understanding of pain and struggle, and the importance of being truthful are brought out.

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