Two strangers meet in a shared cab at 3 am in Bombay - one a writer with an advertising firm, the other an investment banker. One of them has had a very long day at work, the other has an anecdote to share about a beef curry he had two days ago. It's easy to see how the two are in completely different mental spaces, yet there's a common thread, one that often connects strangers in a big city. It could be the mad rush of it that forces them to find solace in brief encounters or moments, or it could be a divine, otherworldly connection. Detour, with its narrative most effortlessly handled by director and writer Sumi Mathai, and the convincing chemistry of Sayani Gupta and Vikrant Massey, explores these dynamics and leaves it up to the viewer to decide which is what.

Detour | Short Film of the Day

Bunny opens with a couple in the middle of nowhere, preparing to gulp down a bottle of sleeping pills. What follows thereafter is an unpredictable sequence of the most unfortunate events. The short film is funny, thrilling, well-written, and most importantly, wonderfully executed. It's beauty lies in its tightness and ability to hold a powerful narrative in the most effortless manner. Convincing performances with an even better chemistry between its two protagonists make it an enriching viewing experience.

Bunny | Short Film of the Day

If there was only one thing that you had to know about this film, know that it's one of Sayani Gupta's best performances till date. Even if there's nothing else which you like about the film (highly unlikely), you still won't be disappointed. The narrative, crafted intelligently, is of a delivery girl taking care of her unwell mother who's in the village. One day when she has had enough of the tantrums of a boy who has treated her rudely on multiple occasions, she attacks him and ties him to a chair, holding him captive in his own house. As the story progresses, it takes the viewer deeper into the struggles of the two protagonists. If it has taken the form of violence for one, it is expressed in the form of insecurities for the other. The film holds back no punches and delivers a satisfying and entertaining product.

Shameless | Short Film of the Day

Shame attempts to be a powerful narrative about the struggle of a woman to feel accepted, loved and beautiful. As she goes around cleaning rooms at the hotel she works at, her feelings often find an outlet in voyeurism and sneaky glances into the lives of the guests. The film is a comment on how class adds to the oppression of a woman who may not fulfill conventional beauty standards. Despite strong performances by Swara Bhasker and Ranvir Shorey, Shame falls short of delivering all that it promises. While it wants to leave the audience with the message that often the only thing stopping you from being all that you can be is your own crippling sense of shame, the events leading to this conclusion are not convincing. Full points to the intention, but that does not take away from the fact that the sudden change in the character trajectory of the protagonist comes as an implausible plot development.

Shame | Short Film of the Day

The video marks ten years of a campaign that was started by actor and director Nandita Das under the Women of Worth NGO in 2009. Called Dark is Beautiful, the campaign attempts to fight discrimination against a dark complexion in India, a country which is made up of 1.3 billion people. The visuals include short sketches and a huge cast of different actors questioning the supremacy of fair skin in India, especially when it comes to defining beauty standards and ascribing value to a person. The cast, in an all-black attire, sings along to a song that questions the erasure of this particular kind of diversity in a country as massive as India.

India's Got Colour | Nandita Das, Sayani Gupta, Radhika Apte | Short Film of the Day

In the witty and unpredictable short film Badminton, director Dibakar Banerjee crafts a captivating night at a bar where casual conversations take a sharp turn into a battle of wits. Starring Jim Sarbh, Vijay Maurya, Sayani Gupta, and Mohammad Ebadullah, the film unravels hidden secrets and shifting dynamics through clever exchanges between a charismatic bartender and an enigmatic guest.

As humor and tension intertwine, the narrative explores deception, human interactions, and the blurred line between truth and illusion. With sharp dialogues, unexpected twists, and stellar performances, Badminton delivers an engaging and thought-provoking cinematic experience.

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