Trigger warning: The purpose of art is to reflect all that is wrong with society, to trigger thoughts that lead to reformative action. Agli Baar succeeds in doing precisely that - holding up the mirror to a very ugly reality of the world we live in. Not for the emotionally fragile, the short film is for an audience which is willing to swallow the bitter truths of a society divided on the lines of religion, class and a mindlessly rigid sense of community. It further invokes the idea that while we may choose to ignore them and be mute spectators to the wrongs being done around us, we are not immune to the agents of evil which may target us next.

Agli Baar | Short Film of the Day

Kheer is a short film about two generations, a child and her grandfather, and the way they look at love and relationships. It opens with an irritated man, played most convincingly by Anupam Kher, quarrelling with a woman. The intimacy of the quarrel suggests that the two are married. The narrative then introduces two more characters, a girl and a boy, Kher's grandchildren. The surprise of these two characters is used most intelligently to reveal that she's indeed not his wife. The short film earns brownie points for the manner in which it navigates around the concepts of companionship and age. It also attempts to normalise the idea that age and the desire to be with someone are two unrelated things. Therefore they should not be judged using this non-existent link as an index.

Kheer | Short Film of the Day

In an ideal world, all religions have one name and that's faith. It unites all devotees and believers with a common thread, and this short film gives us a glimpse of this perfect universe. Hind takes the viewer into the life of Noorul Hasan, a Muslim from Lucknow, who gave away a part of his house to rebuild a temple. In a world which is constantly in the grasp of hate-mongering and sensationalist headlines, this film by Sumit Aroraa is the kind of art we need. Even in the face of all communal disharmony being perpetrated by a few for their own motives, there is another aspect of the picture which is more colourful and beautiful and therefore should be looked at closely. It's these colours that Hind will draw your attention to, and leave you with a sense of hope and love, irrespective of how dark things may seem.

Hind | Short Film of the Day

The story is of a saleswoman visiting three different houses to convince three potential customers to try her Mamta Tonic. She is giggly, chatty and determined to sell her product. The narrative of the film is skilfully written and achieved with the protagonist moulded in an artful manner. However, a dark twist awaits this seemingly mundane activity of door-to-door retail. The unpredictable plot further accentuates the intelligence of Mamta Tonic, bound to leave the viewer shook in their seat.

Mamta Tonic | Short Film of the Day

The short film is a fresh and endearingly humorous take on the sex life of a middle aged couple, played beautifully by Neena Gupta and Jackie Shroff. Along with the convincing performance and chemistry of its two protagonists, the film also has wonderful writing and effortless comedy timing. When Girdharilal stumbles across a pair of handcuffs in his son's room, it triggers an entire conversation on BDSM and kinky sexual preferences between him and his wife. Roopmati, who has recently read Fifty Shades of Grey, has lots to say on the topic to enlighten her husband. As the two attempt to rekindle their sex life and one interruption (read: mishap) follows another, how will the night eventually unfold?

Khujli | Jackie Shroff, Neena Gupta | Short Film of the Day

There has been time travel before in several other films, but what makes Glitch stand out is the protagonist - a semi-naked child at the centre of all the action. As human instinct would have it, he too attempts to set mistakes right every time he travels to the past. However, we have seen enough sci-fi to know how wrong it can truly go. <br. While the butterfly effect sets in and situations spiral out of control, the short film keeps the viewer glued to the screen. The visuals are smooth and elegant, the writing is skilled and the lost child, trying to make sense of the utter disorder, is the most endearing part of it all. Add to it a sophisticated narrative progression and a brief but powerful performance by Mona Singh and an enriching viewing experience is ensured.

Glitch | Short Film of the Day

If spookiness gives you chills, this short film starring Nimrat Kaur and Divyendu Sharma, is not for you. It opens with Kaur getting startled by the sudden presence of her husband, played by Sharma. As the narrative progresses, the viewer realises that Sharma is a ghost, unable to let go of his wife even after his death. His struggle with loneliness also leads him to attempt to bump himself off (once again), but predictably, he fails every time. While the ghost follows his wife around, along with a fossilised bird, Elayichi maintains a good balance between eeriness and lightheartedness. Director Devashish Makhija earns a special mention for portraying the presence of a ghost in a woman's life as a tiresome, but mundane reality.

Elayichi | Short Film of the Day

When a film begins with a trigger warning to not continue if you're a sensitive viewer, of course you will watch it till the very end. However, minus cheap thrills, sensationalism or reverse psychology, Suno is a piece of art which is skilled in itself to catch your attention and keep you engaged throughout. Definitely not meant for viewers who are quick to respond to trauma, both emotional and physical, the short film approaches the topic of consent in the most poignant manner and introduces them to what could be a potential beginning of abuse. It goes on to portray how patriarchy and internal conditioning can lead men and women to view the same situation in drastically different ways. The powerful writing, when coupled with expert performances by the two actors, puts across a moving message about how even loving, well-intentioned people can neglect their partners, blur the lines of consent and live in denial themselves, while conveniently ignoring its consequences. The short film deserves especial mention in which the narrative builds and sustains itself. The climax, a convincing scene by Vyas and Puri, is precisely the conversation all couples need to sit down and pay attention to, for indeed, not everything can be placed in neat black and white categories.

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