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

One night, a visibly distraught boy stumbles into a strange cafe where he is the only customer. He is met by a jovial man who offers him a menu that has no prices. The dishes are to be paid by his karma. What does the boy deserve, will he get what he desires or what the cosmos decides for him? The short film is his journey that involves moving from one kind of soup to another and how it ties up with his deepest secrets. The script, language, performances and the manner in which the two actors interact with each other is thespian in nature. Because it's reminiscent of a theatre performance, the short film sets high expectations for the viewer, higher than what it lives up to. While the idea of good karma is conveyed to be a cathartic exercise, instead of getting the message across to the viewer, it ends up feeling like a therapy session for the protagonist.

Karma Cafe | Short Film of the Day

An astronaut has found herself stranded in a remote part of the universe, far away from home. The year is 2160, and she is all by herself except for a strange presence - a solitary red rose. The image of a lone figure with only a rose as its companion immediately draws to mind the image of an iconic little boy who too had found companionship in a flower on an empty planet. The image in the viewer’s mind is further strengthened the moment we hear the astronaut’s title, the Little Prince. 
The film that subsequently comes into existence is quiet, mellow, and characterized by an intensity of emotion that is both sincere and honest. The result exhibits potential and perhaps could also be developed into a longer project exploring the many (mis?)adventures of this particular Little Prince.

The Astronaut and Her Rose | Short Film Nominee

The plot of the short film is an interesting take on the myth of Sisyphus and how it applies to contemporary times where a deep infestation of technology has taken over our lives. Using the reference of the Greek king who was punished by the gods to be stuck in an endless cycle of pushing a boulder up a mountain to only have it rolled back at the end of the climb, the film invokes the same sense of cyclicality and entrapment when it comes to our smartphones. While there may exist books and the outdoors, somehow we will always find ourselves metaphorically (or literally, as in the case of the protagonist) chained to our phones. The screenplay further attempts a contrast between light and darkness to convey its idea of what falls where. What, in the end, would be the fate of the modern day Sisyphus?

Sisyphus | Short Film Nominee

The film is an engagement with thoughts about the self, the haunting nature of memory and a deep angst the protagonist struggles with. There is also the mention of a divine force that takes care of the events in your life, and perhaps means you well, especially when you feel things are not going your way. However, what happens when you find yourself trapped in a cyclical pattern of the same thoughts that bother you and ensure you never break out of this torture - is it something the divine force has decreed for your growth or are you doomed to a fate of endless pain and misery? The film raises this question and attempts a notable background score to pronounce and amplify its thoughts further. The smooth edit further allows it to put forth a narrative exhibiting potential and leaving the door open with promise of more such projects by the young team.

Divine Decree | Short Film Nominee

Pivoting on the philosophical proposition of Bhairavi Yatna, or the tortuous forty seconds of a person’s life right before their death, the narrative presents its motivations to you. The approach of the visuals is attempted to be experimental, marked by symbolism and imagery of flames and a ticking clock. 

As the forward moving nature of time is conjured and explored within the story, it offers an honest attempt to engage with several notions pertaining to existence, afterlife, and concerns of despair, isolation and even taking one’s life. At the end of it all, the various aspects are tied together and presented to you in the form of the final result.

You Killed Me 2 | Short Film Nominee

The short film opens on a note which is located in our reality, and it soon develops to lead to some interesting developments. Now that the national lockdown has been extended in the country, a man is concerned about his alcohol stash. He asks a friend to get some from outside. For the same, he offers him a strange object, instantly asking the audience to participate in the story more deeply than they may have so far. The object is revealed to be a pair of sunglasses that allow the wearer to teleport at will to a desired location. Using this fantastical object, the film also offers an educational message to its viewer, allowing its brief narrative to be relevant in contemporary times.

Watch Your Every Step | Short Film Nominee

A man sits in his room, a lamp serving as the only evident source of light in the darkness of the night. While he scribbles some words on the paper, strange occurrences start to take place. Whatever he writes, comes true in a disturbing fashion, leaving him deeply shocked and bemused. He moves from one instruction to another, and those events continue to jump into reality. He frantically searches for a way out of this most uncanny situation, and just when he, as well as the viewer, think a solution has been achieved, something far disturbing happens.

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