Anukul is a story by Satyajit Ray that is enhanced in the most elegant way by Sujoy Ghosh's filmmaking. The narrative is about a school teacher who decides to get a robot one day to take care of his domestic chores. Set in West Bengal, the plot touches upon a concern which is also relevant in contemporary times, one of artificial intelligence making humans redundant. The dim-lighting of the film further helps to invoke a sense of tension and uncertainty about the human fate as well as their conflicted equation with machines. The film is subtle, powerful and, irrespective of the side you find yourself on when it comes to apprehensions about AI, sure to move you.

Anukul | Short Film of the Day

The deep infestation of technology and the extremely destructive pitfalls of the same form the narrative of the film. Society’s extreme dependence on smartphones and the internet, and the myriad ways it has left them enslaved without their realization is critiqued by the film in the most earnest manner. Visual treatment with edits and stylistically fitting music choices further support the endeavor. The story comprises two main characters Dharma and Piyu, and the most heartbreaking tragedy that is intertwined in this love story. 

The film is located in Ahmedabad where the city is targetted by an unknown man, the eponymous Drohin. While introducing the viewer to all of these aspects, the film presents an origin story, a first step, and a self-professed prelude to a longer story, leaving the door open with the promise of subsequent parts.

Drohin: Aarambh | Short Film of the Day

The Perfect Match is a short film about the extent of the deep infestation of technology in our lives. The concept of the film has immense potential, yet it fails to be remarkable. It could be due to a low production quality in part. However that aspect can be accounted for by the fact that The Perfect Match was an entry in the 50 Hour Challenge of the India Film Project. Given the short duration for the execution, the film definitely becomes worth a watch.

The Perfect Match | Short Film of the Day

The film locates itself in a futuristic, dystopic society, where human existence is marked by tracking chips and an insidious cough that threatens to prove extremely detrimental to the very existence of mankind. This is further coupled with skilled visuals of illustrations that exhibit notable talent and ease with a pencil and paper. In terms of its story, Prophecy weaves a plot that leads the viewer by the hand to a specific location, only to later portray the folly of it all. As the fictive space of the film battles a severe health problem, also echoing our contemporary reality, the narrative simply puts forward the protagonist's experiences of attempting to survive the formidable circumstances. The same is communicated to the audience by visuals of only a pair of hands sketching images corresponding to the events that are unfolding. While the crisis rages on and on, would our protagonist finally achieve the safe haven he seeks, and perhaps, deserves?

Prophecy | Short Film of the Day

The film attempts a conversation around surveillance and offers differing views that make you pause. Set in a dystopic society where the government's presence in an average person's life has become all pervasive, the film is a conversation between a couple, convincingly played by the two lead actors. While one questions this invasion of privacy, the other is quick to point out the same process set in motion in the name of marketing in the digital space. The narrative concerns itself with a topic that could have slipped into the space of propaganda or over-glorification of particular ideologies. However, its strength lies in the fact that it falls in neither of the two categories and offers an objective, balanced approach to both sides of the argument.

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