This Manoj Bajpayee-starrer is a short-film weaved together by trippy visuals and groovy music by Nucleya. Taandav contrasts the humour in tragedy and vice-versa, much like the reality of our day-to-day lives. It's an interesting comment on expectations, duties, responsibility and ethics. Throw in a polished performance by Bajpayee and an equally talented supporting cast and voila! The perfect piece of art is ready.

Taandav | Manoj Bajpayee | 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

Watch how Ananya's 'mata' comes to the rescue when she is looking for a place to move in with her boyfriend Sooraj. This one features some hilarious dialogue and brilliant comic cameos by the broker and the typical society-uncle.

Jai Mata Di | Supriya Pilgaonkar, Shriya Pilgaonkar | 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

Authentic, unique and extremely entertaining - the latest offering by filmmaker Devashish Makhija is surely all of this, and much more. The narrative takes us into the friendship of three women and portrays the myriad ways in which it gets tied with sexuality, loyalty, looking out for one another and lastly, but also quite importantly - the big O of a woman's life. 

<blockquote>"The outlandish, freewheeling script was improvised over many weeks of rehearsals with the film’s actors (all hailing from India’s National School of Drama), drawing from their personal challenges of growing up as women in patriarchal, small-town-India", says Makhija.</blockquote>

The execution of the plot, which is marked by an element of magical realism, also attains a surreal quality as it presents itself to the viewer. The true triumph of the film, however, lies in the fact that the engagement with its concerns is carried out in a notably effortless manner, tying itself with the filmmaker's own comments about how the narrative came to be. Not taking itself too seriously, the relationships of the characters come across as effervescent, beautifully blending in this dance of rebellions in a small town, little transgressions, snatched and stolen moments of pleasure and joy, and how it is in these small moments indeed that life is weaved. 

The final result steers clear of any vulnerabilities the exploration of thematic underpinnings of the kind exposes a story to, leaving you with a colorful, uplifting, perhaps even educational, film at the end of it all.

Cheepatakadumpa | Devashish Makhija | Short Film of the Day

The short film takes us into the life of Snehal,a young boy trying to survive in a world that expects him to adjust at every step. From his name to his clothes to his house - everything becomes a matter of adjustment. As the protagonist moves from one aspect of his life to another, will he find an escape from this web of constant compromises? Perhaps the answer lies in a plate of khichdi when he asked for biryani instead. Why We Love Adjusting is beautifully shot, written and structured with endearing performances and an effervescent voice-over. It's exactly the kind of wholesome content you need on a rainy day.

Why We Love Adjusting | Short Film of the Day

Did someone say desire? Yes! Did someone say attraction? Oh, yes. Did someone say S-E-X? Yes, yes, yes! But wait, did someone ALSO say female sexuality? Oh, maybe not. Look away everyone, look away and pretend it never happened. This short film draws attention to precisely this aspect of sexuality where women's desires are to be discussed only in hushed whispers behind closed doors. The narrative moves around light banter between a mother-daughter duo, silently but strongly backed by their female domestic help. The women are only talking about the ingredients of the delicacies cooked in a kitchen, but are they really?

Khaney main kya hai | Short Film of the Day

The latest offering by TVF’s Qtiyapa, ‘Padh Le Basanti’ is a humourous take on the dismal conditions of contemporary schools and the Indian education system. It draws attention to the teachers' deliberate efforts to not teach their students properly in the classroom, forcing them to come to them for tuitions. Set in a high school, the film uses Rang De Basanti as its inspiration in a comical way to highlight the intent of the teachers. The faculty leaves no option for the students, but to either cheat or spend money on their tuition fee. Matters come to a head when the topper of the school, Ajay is failed in his exams for being the sole force of resistance against tuition classes. His friends, led by DJ, then embark on a revolution with the help of their new teacher Miss Chu. Will this group of school students be able to provide the spark needed for the inferno of revolution?

Padh Le Basanti | School Qtiyapa TVF | Short Film of the Day

Jeetu has a Goa trip planned for Diwali instead of going home. However, his parents cannot know that which is why when they insist on doing the Diwali puja over video-call, the situation spirals out of control. The short film is hilarious without trying too hard. This is precisely what works in the narrative's favour - it does not attempt to be anything it's not. There are primarily two frames, the father and the son on their respective ends of the phone call which are coupled with lighthearted writing. As the conversation unfolds between them, what would be Jeetu's fate - secret trip to Goa or Diwali with family?

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