'Pravasi.jpeg' presents an overlap of two disparate elements - a man robbed of even the basic opportunity to reach home in time during the pandemic, and a young woman who is located within a space of privilege that remains unachievable for the man. 

While the former has walked a long distance to complete his journey and reach home, the latter, a photographer has come seeking to capture some frames for her camera. As the two worlds collide, with their own limited understanding of the other, the narrative is formed. 

There is further the attempt to rope in symbolism and a flight from the reality at hand to invoke a realm where an individual finds himself reduced to a prop of sorts, unable to actively participate in a narrative building he is now at the heart of. It would be interesting to see more engagement with similar thematic concerns by the team, albeit with tighter control on storytelling and execution of the plot.

Pravaasi.jpeg | Short Film Nominee

Amrita waits for her husband on their anniversary. She's planned a small little surprise for him. She is
inflating balloons, sprinkling red rose petals, putting decoration pieces across the room. Yet, for all of
this infusion of colour, the general vibe is ominous. Instead of being accentuated through
complementing music, these gestures are cast in pin-drop silence. A silence so stark that you’re wary of an impending doom. 
The day turns to evening, then to night. The balloons are deflating, the decorations are falling off, yet
her husband doesn’t arrive. For a brief moment, the narrative gives us momentous, tragic information.
Just when we’re on the verge of believing that as truth, we see a key turn in the door handle.

Happy Anniversary | Lockdown Film Challenge

The narrative's intention is to introduce you to a deeply disturbing reality with the purpose of making the viewer sit up and truly pay attention. The plot deals with child sexual abuse perpetrated by a girl's father, along with emotional abuse inflicted on her by her grandmother. As these issues are explored, we are presented with a protagonist who completes a journey from fear, disgust and repulsion, to finally finding her voice and the fierceness to raise it loud and clear. The film shows potential in terms of visualization and treatment, but makes the choice of a background score which is not entirely consistent with the approach. It is also marked by notable performances by its two female characters that further enhance the story. On the whole, it proves to be a sincere, dedicated endeavor, devoted to portraying its intentions lucidly for the viewer.

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