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

At first glance, the film presents an objective, fly-on-the-wall perspective on a sensitive topic that has polarized opinions for a while now. A chasm between the ideologies of the left and the right is presented to the viewer through an interview with a theatre artist. While he speaks of religious harmony, the journalist, quite evidently clear in his sympathies towards one ideology, and very openly critical of the theatre actor, constantly pushes to make the interview as colorful as possible. 

By way of the words articulated by the actor, a comment is offered on the sensationalization of news at the cost of the very fabric and identity of India as a nation. The film, complete with a notable protagonist, is concise and unequivocal on the two schools of thought that are portrayed, in addition to sharing its views on mindless hate and what the consequences can be for someone who dares to question it.

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