‘Rudra’ offers a notable comment on the very specific kind of anger that fuels the fire of revenge. It places a cycle of violence in motion from where there is no breaking out, unless the path of forgiveness and kindness is remembered in time. 
The visual narrative remains confined primarily to a single room where a man is busy at work at a make-shift desk. Surrounded by newspaper clippings and documents that hark back to both his present motivations as well as past tragedies, the film presents its world to you. There is a judicious use of space and limited resources to bring the story to life, conveying its message to the viewer in a lucid manner.

Rudra | Short Film Nominee

‘Anjom’ is a story of injustice and corruption, and the attempts of a wronged man to take matters into his own hands. The narrative shares its ideas in an experimental manner, portraying each event with clarity. 

After a man sexually assaults a woman, her family seeks the help of the law to bring the perpetrator to justice. However, his deep pockets and a corrupt police officer ensure that he goes scot-free, making a complete mockery of law courts and the justice system. Thus is born the thirst for revenge delineated for the viewer with smooth visuals, alongside the educational message that the film wants to leave the audience with.

Anjom | Short Film Nominee

A major and a captain of the Indian Army are on a reconnoissance mission in the endless snow of Kashmir. As the senior officer shares his experiences with his junior, a terrible development awaits them. 

By offering the tragedy that strikes the two in the form of an ambush, the narrative endeavors to invoke a conversation on the violence that afflicts the Valley. It also shares its ideas on how the common people languish under the burden of the flawed ideologies of politicians as well as militant outfits. 

The metaphor that the film presents in its title is of an all-powerful avatar of Vishnu. This is then coupled with the visuals of a vast, empty space where the only sound is that of gunshot, and the only color, other than the pale snow, is the crimson of blood.

Varaaha | Short Film Nominee

A moment in time, a call for help that doesn't arrive, and a single man’s battle against delinquency and the seedy world of crime - it is in these elements that the film is presented to the viewer. The plot, however, is not simply confined to this single moment, but also stretches to include what preceded it, as well as a gradual establishment of developments that will constitute the action that is to follow. 

The screenplay exhibits investment of thought, along with skill in the performance. It is only a slight dip in the visuals that robs the film of points it otherwise scores in other departments. As the title is pronounced, the story finally concludes with a situation that has only begun to come into existence, thereby leaving one with the promise of a subsequent part.

Delayed | Short Film Nominee

‘One Bloody Bullet’ presents a zealous endeavor of weaving a story of violence, deceit, murder and survival. A man has found himself between a rock and a hard place after losing a large sum of money in gambling on the results of a sports tournament. Our first introduction to his misery is in the form of his woeful face as the Indian cricket team wins a match. The contrast in the reaction that the viewer is likely to expect from the protagonist offers the film’s first stab at grabbing your attention. 

There is further the attempt to experiment with pacing, narratorial progression and editing to bring the story to life. All of these elements work in their capacity and, even though a few wrinkles remain, on the whole, they allow the plot to convey its intentions.

One Bloody Bullet | Short Film Nominee

A group of young boys is sitting around a fire and listening to old Hindi songs on the radio. Suddenly the
quiet of the moment is disrupted by gunshots. When the men who fired the shots are revealed to be
in a military uniform, it becomes clear that the setting is the violence-torn Kashmir valley. The commentary
that follows the bloodshed on screen is poetic. It seems like the voice of an omniscient narrator who is
overlooking the clash, confusion, chaos, as someone both involved and removed from the
scene. His words are meant to offer the contrasting voice of reason, sanity, peace and patience.
However, the film only brushes
through the surface of the conflicting tale it hopes to tell.

Dastak | Short Film Nominee

The narrative of ‘[Unfinished’ is not really the story in itself, but more like a single moment taken from it. This harks back to its title, confirming the suggestion it had offered so far - about the incomplete nature of what is to unfold before you. The visual representation of the same is done by way of security cam footage. As a man flees from a residential society, and the security guards begin the scramble to chase and catch him, the entirety of the plot comes into being, and is thus presented to the viewer. In the process, this also paves the path for what will follow next in subsequent parts of the story.

[Unfinished | Short Film Nominee

We are told that the film is shot on a budget with limited resources, and under a fixed time frame, but despite taking into consideration all of those factors, it is hard writing a review for
Wolfman because it doesn’t seem like a complete film in itself, only a part of a film. From start to finish, it shows its prowess in the department of action. There are fights and stunts one after
the other. Men are being killed indiscriminately through fists, knives and guns. They
are being nailed on the floor, table and the sink. However, what is truly the cause or motivation behind the violence?

Wolfman | Short Film Nominee

The film aims to pack drama, action, violence and betrayal to tell its story. A group of gangsters, who have been murdering people after securing money from them using deceit and trickery, find a victim of theirs getting out of their clutches. And thus begins the struggle to entrap and kill him. As the story progresses, more characters are roped in, loyalties are questioned and stakes get higher and higher. After two failed attempts on their target's life, an unexpected development awaits them in this game of bullets, the word being used as a pun to mean both the motorcycle as well as in the context of guns. When all the cards have been laid on the table, who will finally play the winning hand?

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