Many have attempted tying poetry with visuals to drive home a message, yet very few succeed as gloriously as this short film by Roshnee Desai. The storytelling progression adopted by the narrative goes on to prove that irrespective of how old the story is, the manner of telling it makes all the difference. Another strength of the video is how it invokes in the viewer the memory of several impeccable video treatments that came before it - from Arctic Monkeys' Do I Wanna Know to, closer home, Kalki Koechlin's Noise. However, at the same time, it manages to stand out with its very own intrinsic uniqueness. If it can be said in fewer words, it should be said in fewer words, and Cover Up goes ahead to prove how magical this formula can be when used skilfully. There is a reason why the subject of the film has not been mentioned so far in the review. Simply put, it's just another product that talks about the patriarchal oppression of women, in both overt and inert ways. But that's not what the video (or this review) is about. It's about the power of art and the extent of its impact. Full points to Desai for using this for its full potential while making the whole process look effortless.

Cover Up | Short Film of the Day

This Navratri, Blush has a new song for you, an attempt to remind you of the importance of safe sex and consent. The video cites data about the rise in the sale of emergency contraceptives and illegal abortions during the festive season to convey its message emphatically. The use of music, song and dance is employed to talk about three couples about to have sex. However, all three situations come with their own individual warnings and a lesson to take home for the viewer without sounding didactic.

The Hanky Panky Songs | Navratri Special | Short Film Nominee

A tattoo artist is closing his studio at the end of the day when he is visited by an unexpected patron. She has arrived with a very pressing demand. Vikram is late for his birthday dinner, all his friends have already reached the venue, and yet, he decides to help out the young woman with the quick task. As the two engage in a conversation, a horrifying story develops, one that presents an overlap between the most terrifying experience of the girl at a conversion therapy facility, and another sinister occurrence awaiting Vikram. 

The film becomes an earnest effort in storytelling that utilizes a limited physical space to portray its reality. The narrative simply offers a moment in time without the cause-and-effect relationship of its many events. Hence, if '12.12' is developed into a longer project with all of these details, it would enrich the story further.

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