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

Trigger warning: sexual assault, sexual violence 

The film wants to tell a story of fierceness, and of sheer resilience and courage when all seems lost. Locating itself in the fictional realm of Khushmanda, it opens in the middle of action where a young girl, Aadya, has arrived at the village leader, Devi’s refuge with some key information. 
The subsequent events are marked by brutality, violence, and yet, an invincibility that harbors the strength to vanquish any foe. All the young women remain forces to be reckoned with in the film, bringing a powerful reality to life with their performance. The storytelling in its current form, however, is simply a moment in time. It would be intriguing to watch it taken further, complete with a cause-and-effect equation.

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