Dealing with a topic as sensitive as child sexual abuse runs the danger of easily falling into a space of sensationalism, voyeurism or simple unpalatability. It requires a meticulous and delicate treatment in order to drive its point home, to introduce a possibly unsuspecting or unwilling audience to it, to hone their sensibilities and awareness in the most constructive way possible. If a film makes you sit up and pay attention to your actions and of those around you, to perhaps strive for reform, then a product of art can be considered successful in a significant way. That is exactly what Maunn manages to achieve. 

The film opens with a shot in the dimming light of twilight on a terrace, clearly suggesting the passage of imminent darkness. The plot unfolds to reveal that the couple is quarrelling about sexual abuse of their ten-year-old daughter, Shreya at the hands of their neighbour's son, Dev. We make our way into the house, currently under a power-cut, while the couple continues to argue about their course of action regarding Dev. The muted colour palette and the dimly lit frames remain until the absolute moment of clarity is achieved by the viewer as well as Shreya's father when he finds Dev uncomfortably close to his daughter. The moment is further foregrounded by the end of the power-cut. Light floods back into the room, along with the father's undeniable realisation of his daughter's abuse. 

The crux is reached in the narrative in a forceful manner leaving the viewer unsure of what truly hit them. As they reel with the aftermath, the film succeeds in reiterating the message it had set out to convey at the start. However, how will it influence Shreya's parents?

Maunn (Silence) | Eros Now | Anurag Arora

‘Together’ is a quiet story which is nevertheless marked by a powerful and empathic voice. Munmun, a single parent and thus, the sole earner of her family, is a domestic help who is out of work because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Without making it explicit, the film presents the dire financial straits of the protagonist who has not made rent in two months. 

Consequently, one day when an opportunity knocks on the door, living for a week at the house of an unwell couple, she is quick to take it, leaving her two young children by themselves at home. The lady of the house, taking care of her Covid-stricken husband, is cold and unkind in her approach to the hardworking Munmun. 

Along with the many difficulties which the pandemic presented to people across the spectrum, both the privileged and otherwise, the film also offers a trajectory of kindness, from standoffishness to concern to an eventual softening of the heart. However, the question intrinsic to the narrative remains that when this kindness finally arrives, would it be enough, and would it be in time?

Together | Short Film of the Month

As humans threaten to overwhelm nature and environment, it is important to take a beat and reassess the impact of our actions. The documentary is a step in the same direction by engaging with a crucial concern that needs to be discussed more in the urban space. 
The film primarily introduces us to Preeti Patil and Premila Martis who, along with a group of volunteers, have raised a beautifully thriving terrace farm. Take note that this is not a regular farm, but one which prospers at the heart of the most densely populated Indian city, Mumbai. Underlying the efforts of our two subjects and the organization they are associated with, Urban Leaves, is the message that a small corner of greenery can be achieved anywhere with the right approach and efforts. 

The narrative further maps several obstacles that include the dismantling of the farm, finding it a new home, only to dismantle it again in the wake of the pandemic. However, as the film recounts its journey, there is the awareness and realization that if one is willing to give back, the desired results can be achieved, reminding the viewer once again of their role in reducing their carbon footprint, and allowing, both themselves as well as the environment, a fresh breath of air. There is further the emphasis on empowering yourself with the right tools and knowledge because once you are equipped in this manner, there is little that cannot be overcome and achieved.

City Farmer | Short Film Nominee

Zara Si Mohabbat uses a dialogue that would stay with the viewer after they are done watching the film. At one juncture in the narrative, a character called Sharad, tells his lover, Manohar, that they are like the fertile soil on which the future generations would bloom. Mapped against a queer relationship which constantly battles societal and familial pressures, the dialogue holds loud and clear. The story too is about Sharad and Manu's battle to gain acceptance in their own respective families. While one of them has kept his sexuality and relationship a secret, the other has recently revealed it, only to be met with a cold silence from their end. The film definitely shows potential in thought and approach. However, it unravels a little in the second half, with a loose scene or two, eventually pulling itself together to present the completed narrative to the viewer. It is a welcome prospect to see more similar engagements by the team.

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