Looking back on Valentine's Day over the years, you realise we have celebrated singlehood, female companionships, pets, so on and so forth. Just when you thought there's nothing new that can be added to the list, a short film arrived with the most relevant and wonderful message. This V-Day, let's celebrate women who make the first move. Making a strong comment on gender dynamics, Old Fashioned Love, is about a conversation between a bartender and a man sketching by himself. The first reaction for many viewers can be of surprise - to see a woman behind the bar in India, and that is perhaps another comment that the film makes. The conversation between them is intelligently written. The narrative is simple and engaging and concludes with a powerful ending.

Old Fashioned Love | Short Film of the Day

It's comforting to see more and more voices join the conversation around choice. When it comes to a woman's attire, everyone seems to have an opinion which they would enthusiastically share with the world without the slightest request. In such a scenario, when two women sit down to have a calm conversation about their idea of dressing, it's indeed a refreshing change. No matter where you find yourself on the spectrum of covering up your body, you will definitely find something in the video to agree with. The idea behind it is simple, but powerful like strong narratives should be. It's well-argued, well-scripted and well-performed. So, when a young actor in her ripped jeans meets an English Literature professor in a burqa at a bus stop, whose ideology would echo with you more?

Marzi | Short Film of the Day

When it's time to visit the family, it's also time to confront parents' disagreement with lifestyle choices, nosy neighbours and your mother's failed attempts to contain gossip. Phuljhadi is a film which delineates all of this and more. From adoption to a mother-daughter conflict - the film touches upon them all. Aprajita is a working professional who has adopted a girl and this Diwali is the first time she's coming to her grandparents' house. Will it be a emotional reunion or a bitter goodbye?

Phuljhadi | Short Film of the Day

It All Starts From Within is subtle, easy and engaging. It talks about a topic conversation around which is rife in contemporary times. Yet it doesn’t become hackneyed or maudlin. It reminds the viewer that often being comfortable with your body and personality is simply not sufficient. It’s the comfort of the external gaze which is of utmost importance. However, it goes ahead to reject this to conclude that if you’re content with the way you are, so be it. That precisely is the end of the conversation. The short film reinforces the idea of body positivity and acceptance in the most endearing and effortless manner - a conversation between two strangers. The chemistry between the actors and the ease with which it flows further strengthens the film. Content like IASFW is a relevant commentary on contemporary times. Watch it to enrich your perspective on beauty and acceptance.

It All Starts From Within | Short Film of the Day

A Christmas Carol is a story of one afternoon and a conversation between a dejected man and a cheerfully unconcerned boy. The former has had a rough day and is in no mood for the boy's chatter. The latter, on the other hand, is unstoppable in sharing his love for dance and his approach to life. The story is notably well-written and is beautiful in its simplicity. As the two exchange their dreams and stories, a sense of hope and perseverance is invoked which is perhaps all the Christmas cheer one needs this festive season. The film is heartwarming, innocent and goes to show the importance of good narratives in determining a film's success.

A Christmas Carol | Short Film of the Day

Ahead of Father’s Day, Blush’ latest offering is about a nervous, newly married’s woman’s relationship with her father-in-law. The narrative is plotted against the background of an India-Pakistan cricket match. As they watch the match together, the memory of the 1996 World Cup, where India and Pakistan played in the same team against Sri Lanka, is invoked. While reminding the viewer of a heartwarming memory in the history of the World Cup, the young woman finds a similar emotional space with her father-in-law that she had once found wit her own father. Released amidst the World Cup hysteria that has gripped the nation, the short film is simple, endearing and makes for a wholesome watch.

Unexpected Partnership | Short Film of the Day

When you deal with a topic like gender, there is the danger of running into repetition and monotony. The content around the topic has set the bar very high and a film has to be especially unique to eschew these problems. It would be safe to say that Kahi Suni, the second episode of the series - Sisterhood Tales by Blush, comes midway in this journey. When it starts, it does not set the horizon of expectation too high - it's the story of yet another woman who's trying to balance work with her family's expectations. However the short film becomes a little more interesting as she sits in her cab to find a woman driver. From there, the narrative only goes higher and higher. During the course of her ride, she also finds out that the driver is specially abled. In the process, the film leaves the viewer with a subtle but impactful message about how we view people who are different from us. It further reiterates that simply by standing up for each other, we can make our struggles easier, even if slightly so.

Kahi Suni | Short Film of the Day

The latest offering by Blush, made as part of the second season of their Unblushed series, takes us into the struggle and the eventual victory of a cancer survivor. The person in question is no other than Tahira Kashyap. Minimalist in its approach, the visuals of the film exhibit a skilled use of light and shadows. They are further complemented by poetry narrated by Kashyap herself. The film ends on an impactful note, reminding the viewer that the scars of battle are a reminder that you’re a ruler who’s now ready for their reign.

#Birthmarks | Short Film of the Day

Despite the presence of Article 15 in the Indian Constitution, which forbids discrimination of people based on their religion, caste and creed, the contemporary reality in the country is far from it. This video with Ayushmann Khurana calls out the same. Ahead of the release of his film Article 15, it becomes one of the many similar videos Khurrana has been doing with other publications. In terms of treatment, the video is simple and straight. The writing is constituted by powerful poetry, questioning the status quo. It earns full points for being thought provoking and impactful, albeit not standing out for its visuals, art direction and overall execution.

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