The metaphor of sound and its related processes - hearing, communicating, listening, comprehending and accepting - all of them together constitute the central metaphor of the narrative. The absence of these processes, the act of being able to hear each other, presents to the viewer the story of Vijay and his family. His father lives with a disability, thereby leaving the onus of fending for the family on his wife and the eldest son. 

Vijay’s younger brother, Varun, has withdrawn into his own little world, away from the many tribulations that his mother and sibling deal with on a daily basis. Vijay too leads a double life his family has no idea about. The narrative weaves all these elements together seamlessly, offering a poignant story of a broken household where each character inhabits their own realm. The performances further bolster this reality, as does the writing. 
 
Vijay’s vulnerabilities, hopes, and dreams, as well as his mother’s quiet suffering, alongside his father’s rage at an existence that has confined him to a life of immobility, are all shared in a skilled manner. The film loosens a little towards the conclusion, especially after presenting a potentially powerful climax, but that’s a wrinkle that can be overlooked in favor of everything else the plot offers.

Vakh Vakh Sansaar  | Short Film of the Month

Vaapsi is a glimpse into a father-son conversation as they go about discussing mundane affairs that constitute life; from his son's love life to his affinity for alcohol to a goodbye that the two share as the young lieutenant returns to his duties as an Indian Army officer. On their way to the Dehradun train station, the two talk about their shared past and the future, perhaps all the while attempting to take their attention away from the imminent goodbye. Some goodbyes are harder than others and the short film attempts to capture the essence of one such parting that is made bearable only by the promise of a reunion.

Vaapsi | Short Film of the Day

The film offers a very unabashed, direct glimpse into the extremely patriarchal world women inhabit, and the subsequent sexism they have to deal with on a daily basis. It presents the many statements that are made in the context of women’s safety, and then goes ahead to display the absurdity of it all. 

The ensuing narrative questions the location of men in a society that refuses to hold them accountable, simply putting all checks and balances on women, instead of looking for corrective measures for the problem itself. The characters played by the various actors are convincing, and even though the narrative is direct and simple, not venturing into the space of nuance and grey territories, it achieves precisely what it has set out to do - raise awareness and draw attention to a compelling issue.

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