The short film presents a sharp, unabashed look into the world of fake news and the many ways technology is manipulated and employed for the vested interests of political parties and their associated communities. However, the approach adopted to portray all of this is defined not by moral didacticism, but instead by notable performances, poetry and honesty towards the message it wants to share. 

Beyond the emphatic condemnation of the deluge of fake news plaguing society in the most destructive ways, the film maintains a deliberate objective stance, ensuring to not blame a specific community, party, religion or individual. At some points within the story, the narrative is no more than a fly on the wall, simply presenting characters from varying sides of the ideological spectrum. 

Despite losing a few points when it comes to sound dubbing, the film does its bit to further the conversation on a very compelling issue, especially in a highly polarized world, when it is extremely important to call a spade a spade without jumping on bandwagons.

मेमे  (Meme) | Short Film of the Day

Trigger warning: Based on true events, the short film is a jarring reminder of brutal sexual violence against young girls and women in India. The story is of a small town in Punjab where a boy lives with his younger sister. The narrative is handled maturely and does not give in to sentimentalism, voyeurism and excessive violence that films of this kind often fall prey to. Ayaana draws attention to how widespread rapes are in the country and how little is the punishment that is meted out to the perpetrators. Consequently, it serves to disturb the viewer and has the potential to spur them into action against this much prevalent form of sexual abuse and assault.

Ayaana | Short Film of the Day

Fit India is the story of twenty-five-year-old Ganika who is overweight, and faces constant body shaming.
She suffers repeated rejections by suitors who come to examine her, as is customary in an arranged
marriage set-up in India. Ganika strives to balance her own self-esteem and aspirations with the social
expectations. 
On the surface level, the film is light-comedy that imbibes millennial jargon and behaviours to become
relatable and consumable. The lead actor playing Ganika, as well as the rest of the cast, live up to
what’s expected of their performance. However, it also seeks to straddle its own aspirations of
delivering something new and unique, and an attempt to employ mainstream tropes in order to increase its appeal for a larger section of the audience. The film offers a simple engagement with issues of body shaming and how it gets tied with the patriarchal gaze of Indian society, while perhaps also striving for introspection of their own thoughts and perspectives on the part of the viewer.

Fit India | Short Film Nominee

The short film is simple and direct in its intentions. It wants to talk about an important concern, the significance of education, which it further ties with the familial space. Arpit and his Dau are farmers in rural Madhya Pradesh, shouldering the burden of survival. In the middle of it all, however, lies Arpit's deep dedication to education, much to the fury of his elder brother. Dau abuses his younger brother both verbally and physically, forcing him to work on their farm instead. Even in the face of all adversity, Arpit continues to push forth, never giving up on his academic pursuits, for he is driven by a very strong motivator - hope. The title of the film is eventually realized at the conclusion as the most pivotal development of the plot makes its presence known.

Umeed | Short Film Nominee

The intention of the narrative is simple and direct, but also marked by a crucial reminder of a message we might forget despite its simplicity. Two men sit at the edge of a cliff having a moving conversation about happiness and isolation. 
While one of them seems to be drowning in despair, the other makes relentless efforts to pronounce notions of hope, positivity and finding one’s strength. 
 It is in the ensuing conversation that the story’s intentions are made clear. As it concludes, the overarching idea is expressed, leaving the viewer with an attempt of invoking optimism and the reminder to not quit just yet.

Talk It | Short Film Nominee

As the conversation around misogyny and women's safety gains more and more relevance, the short film does its bit to further the same. The narrative takes the viewer directly into the heart of action and portrays for us a scene of abduction. As a woman is held captive by two men, the plot endeavors to hold a mirror to society, and its deep-set, problematic notions about women and their location within it. 

Alongside this, the forward movement of the plot continues, continuing to question these extremely destructive forces, while also showing a character who refuses to be a meek, coy being deprived of agency. The various elements are eventually tied together and presented to the viewer, ensuring that the message is shared in an unequivocal manner.

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