A group of young men at the heart of intense caste politics form the film's backbone. With the police in cahoots with the upper caste Yogesh, there is nothing stopping his reign of terror over the Dalits of this little town, Kasganj, in the northern parts of India. Alongside it, the innocent but resilient romance of Sheetal and Chandan is beginning to define itself in the face of the oppressive caste forces. 

The town is home to Thakur Gali, a lane through which no lower caste procession shall pass. When Chandan is denied permission to let his wedding party through, a terrible story develops that holds the potential to redefine the existing cultural and political map. With the imminent election, another influential member of the group, Badri, has quite a different approach than Yogesh to the increasingly rising tensions. 

The film is marked by evident potential when it comes to storytelling and constructing a world rooted in a terribly unsettling reality. It further exhibits the dedication of its cast and crew to bring all of it to life. The narratorial interweaving, constituted by action, deceit, intrigue, violence, and emotional complexity, should definitely be explored more in future endeavors.

Kasganj | Short Film of the Month

Inspired by Premchand’s namesake story, ‘Kafan’ locates itself far from the twentieth century, and in the contemporary coronavirus-ridden world instead. The story opens at a moment of tension, presenting to us a very unwell woman in Budhiya, as well as the plight of her worried, frantic husband, Madhav. 

As a frenzied quest begins to secure urgent medical aid for Budhiya, the film offers comments on privilege, the access the affluent enjoy in hospitals during a crisis, and at the end of it all, on death, the great leveler. At the same time, there is also a reminder that while death and the pandemic might be indiscriminate in who they choose to claim as their own, the poor and the underprivileged still have immense obstacles to overcome at every step, including death. 

The final product of 'Kafan' boasts notable performances, especially that of the protagonist in Madhav, and in a brief glimpse of an unnamed character. This is further coupled with subtlety and uniqueness of voice in the reality and commentary that it brings to life.

Kafan | Short Film Nominee

At the heart of the documentary lies a very compelling issue - the education of young women, along with the many ways society and the world fails them at every stage. 
It tackles it by taking us into the hinterland of Rajasthan, and drawing the viewer's attention to primarily the experiences of four girls, Jeena, Indira, Varsha and Basanti. From the pandemic to alcoholism to injuries and lack of proper health facilities, all of them become issues that plague their lives, with their education being the final fatality of them all. Even though the narratorial progression could gain from a little more coherent weaving of its various events, it exhibits potential in its visual storytelling, as well as the desire to share its intentions with the world.

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links