The short film is a nuanced and skilful portrayal of how humour can be found even in the most tragic situations. Along with being a subtle but impactful comment on gender, it also shows the struggle of straddling modernity and tradition. Khatoon Ki Khidmat shows a newly-married woman refusing to have sex with her husband until he gets her a television set. The husband, on the other hand, is struggling to get his father to accept his wife and their marriage. As the characters fight it out, the narrative draws attention to familial dynamics and the location of a woman in a patriarchal household. The film is funny, engaging, insightful and a reminder of how the biggest battles of life are waged in the smallest moments.

Khatoon Ki Khidmat | Short Film of the Day

Getting rapping to Mumbai streets is this 25-year-old artist Naved Shaikh (aka Naezy). Trying to turn away from a life of delinquency, young Naved found himself turning to poetry. Soon his father gifted him an iPad, and since then there has been no turning back. Posited between his religious identity, the expectations of his parents and his love for rapping in the vernacular, Naved attempts to use hip hop to fight regressive ideologies and bring change in society. The short film narrates the struggles of an aspiring artist in the most honest and skilful manner. It's visual language is in direct relation with the music created by the protagonist on his iPad. While Bombay 70, titled thus after the part of Mumbai Naved comes from, introduces the viewer to the rapper, it also manages to incorporate his music and art with its narration and storytelling, making it a well-rounded, wholesome product.

Bombay 70 | Short Film of the Day

First thing's first, let's begin by appreciating the title of this short film. Next- can we please talk about the beautiful cinematography, authentic frames and the most accurate comic timing of the film? This Enter DLP production, written and directed by Pranav Bhasin, also has a surprise up its sleeve regarding its genre for the unsuspecting viewer. With a convincing performance by Arnav Bhasin and Sarita Patankar, The Wolf of Chawl Street will introduce you to the Mumbai streets, but with a twist. It will definitely make you fall in love with the art of making short films, as well as the process of consuming them.

The Wolf of Chawl Street | Short Film of the Day

Off it goes, running at bullet speed. Make sure to watch closely or before you know, you'll miss it! We are talking about the Mumbai locals of course, a serpentine, labyrinthine transport network that has its roots deeply embedded all across the city. It won't be erroneous to say that Mumbai-wallahs romanticise the locals in the same manner in which the rest of the country romanticise the Indian railways. It also won't be incorrect to say that Bombai offers the most beautiful and honest version of it. Voiced by Bharti Sachin Jadhav, the short film uses skilful cinematography and a sophisticated background score to tell the story of the Mumbai locals which is not very different from the commuters who take it every day. As one particular local shares her story with the viewer, you realise that, after all, her aspirations, memories, hopes and daily struggles are same as any other commuter. The city might have changed, but the local continues to run unaltered, forming the stable backbone of Mumbai.

Bombai | Short Film of the Day

The short film takes us into the life of a struggling actor who is a fan of Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Siddiqui struggled for decades before any recognition and that indeed is a source of inspiration for so many trying to make their way into Bollywood. They call Mumbai the city of dreams for a reason. It truly is the city where so many have covered the journey from dust to glory. However, for every tale of success and fame that we may have come across, there are at least fifty more that never made it to daylight, that were never heard or shared. Nawaz is a short film that introduces us to one such tale. But will it be of renown or oblivion? That, as is true of all stories, is anyone's guess. 

Nawaz | Short Film of the Day

Imago invokes the importance of physical beauty for a young girl. A school student, the protagonist of the short film, suffers from leucoderma, a skin condition that leaves her with white spots on her dark skin. Owing to her appearance, she finds it hard to fit in with her peers and struggles with social anxiety. The lack of acceptance leads her to a potentially abusive relationship with an adult who is seemingly accepting of her condition. The short film performs a masterful job of showing how the absence of conventional beauty can be extremely isolating for a young girl. In a short duration, it raises very potent questions and leaves the viewer wanting for more.

Imago | Short Film of the Day

The short film is not for the fainthearted. It offers the most disturbing picture of a marriage where an alcoholic man abuses his wife sexually, physically and mentally. The film further explores the extent to which such a dysfunctional familial space is capable of impacting a child. It portrays rage, an inability to express that anger and the outlets all this repressed and denied fury would eventually find. It is also an endeavour to glimpse into the mind of a rapist - from his first attempt when he is unsure and scared of the consequences to the brazen fearlessness and glorying in his crimes as conquests, marked by their own war trophies. Adwaita further shows how one individual can set in motion an entire cycle of hate and anger and how hard it is for another to break out of it. As black and white mingle to give way to grey territories with no fixed notions of right and wrong, viewers should be warned, once again, that the short film is only meant for an audience which has a stomach for the disturbing, squalid realitites of this world.

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