Based on a short story by Ruskin Bond, The Black Cat by Bhargav Saikia portrays an interesting turn of events starting from a day in Bond's life. Played by Tom Alter, Bond comes in possession of a broomstick which is soon accompanied by a black cat turning up at his doorstep. His misadventures with the kitty keep the audience involved, while also invoking a sense of sympathy for the harried writer. Soon after a Ms. Bellows follows, claiming the cat to be hers, and our protagonist is more than grateful to hand over the kitty to his unusual guest. The narrative offers interesting characters in the form of both Alter as Bond and Shernaz Patel as Ms. Bellows. The beautiful camera angles lend an otherworldly quality to the film, equally supported by an eerie soundtrack. Along with Anglican influences in the form of costumes, language and the general lifestyle, The Black Cat also possesses an element of the supernatural, characteristic of much of Bond's writing. This is achieved by elegant special effects which, when coupled with a seamless edit and sophisticated visuals, make the film a thrilling watch.

The Black Cat | Tom Alter | Short Film of the Day

The story is of an Arjun and an Indra, of magical stones and a disappeared boy. Add to it Radhika Apte in one of her most alluring avatars as a convincing coquette, and the short film is bound to catch your attention. The setting is the house of an artist somewhere in West Bengal. One afternoon a police officer visits him regarding the disappearance of a boy called Arjun who was last known to have met him. The mystery of the missing boy which is introduced to the viewer is taut with the sexual tension between the police officer and the young wife of his ageing host. The plot is the overarching force that drives this film, a modern day take on the myth of Ahalya in which the power structures have been reversed. Further, the narrative is weaved most seamlessly by skilled performances of its three actors.

Ahalya | Short Film of the Day

Shorted

The film is a fantastical engagement with a little boy’s grief and his iron resolve to ensure he finds a way back to his mother. While negotiating his fate with the sea, the mammothian entity that took his mother, our young protagonist is transported to a magical realm. Here, as he strikes a bargain with Lord Ganesha, the narrative comes into its own, using mythology and fantasy to talk of love, tragic loss, and the treacherous path that lies ahead of the little boy. 
The surreal realm, constructed entirely in Sanskrit and with meticulous care, is replete with metaphors and symbolism that demand the audience’s undivided attention to fully decipher and grasp their meaning. The film further employs a remarkable background score, alongside an originality of visual progression, both tied together seamlessly, to portray all of this and some more for the viewer.

The Eyes of Truth | Short Film Nominee

The realm of the film is defined entirely by symbolism and metaphors to present the internal struggles of the protagonist. As he sits by himself fixing a clock, perhaps he is attempting to fix, understand, and even dispel the many mysteries of time itself. His tinkering with the object, and all that it can potentially stand for soon takes us into a world of vast expanses of nature, abound by mystical and magical creatures and occurrences. Three characters in hooded capes, the myriad elements of nature, all thrive here. As the protagonist traverses a journey from darkness to light, can these elements lead him to wings, wisdom, and a soaring flight? A strong voiceover and performances, written and executed with care, and interwoven with competent visuals, share the film's world with the viewer. The obscure explorations constitute the young man’s journey, eventually presenting the answer to this question.

Exodus | Short Film of the Day

It’s been the end of a long day for a man who works at the crematorium. The narrative soon progresses to reveal how each day at this job is indeed a long one, owing to the very nature of what he does. 


As the protagonist sits down to unwind with a drink and finish the last formalities of the day, he is joined by 50-year-old Haridas, the man he cremated earlier, and thus develops an exchange from the realm of a fantasy-drama. 

The conversations conjure philosophical and existential themes as the two characters discuss their personal tragedies and afflictions. The plot shares all of this without burdening the narrative as the exchange remains seamless and forward-moving. Notwithstanding a little rawness, the end result is an efficient utilisation of the actors and the screenplay, and establishes an unmissable tonality and vision which evidences potential and paves the path for future explorations.

Chitragupta of the Crematorium | Spotlight

The film constructs itself like a parable, eventually presenting the viewer with an important message that the protagonist is quick to miss. Keeping itself free of any verbal exchanges, the narrative relies entirely on visual drama and action to paint this reality for the viewer. 
The visual landscape is utilized judiciously to present the protagonist’s tryst with a magical flute. When played, it showers him with money. However, the moment he is too consumed by the greed of grasping the notes, he also loses the gift he had been presented with, forgetting what truly mattered in his lust for money. The end result remains defined by brevity, clarity of its screenplay, and visual progression.

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