Get ready for a thriller set in the Tulu forest of Karnataka that will keep you at the edge of your seat throughout. Paroksh, which means the invisible, pushes the boundaries of short films with its proper three act structure of setup, confrontation and resolution. The film does a wonderful job of exploring how we fear the unknown, and wins full points for the unpredictability of the plot and the manner in which it unfolds. Based on a true story, the film also has a subtle, but pertinent social message at the end.

Paroksh | Short Film of the Day

The short film by Drishyam Films takes us into a single day in the life of a farmer in Karnataka. The film is set in 2016, soon after the legalisation of guns for farmers in the state to protect their crops from wild boars. The narrative critiques the decision and the ramifications that ensued. There are no dialogues in the film between the protagonists, the story is weaved together by skilled cinematography and editing instead, making the viewer forget completely about the absence of words. It further draws attention to the fact that while decisions might be reached by those in power, debated by those who cannot change them, those who are truly affected by them have little to say in this regard. The protagonist of the film listens to the news of legalisation of weapons on his radio with casual indifference. The day's tasks are taken care of with the same nonchalance that must have been employed on every other day before then. The decision will affect him in far serious ways than he realises and yet do little to change the reality of the world he inhibits.

Bete (Hunt) | Short Film of the Day

The film exhibits efficient use of the same, limited space to convey emotions defined by thrill, horror and violence. The scene presented to us is of an interrogation. A senior forest official investigates a case where the main culprit, Raja, a bandit leader, was apprehended three months ago. Soon after the arrest and taking Raja and his men into custody, however, some terrible developments came to be. It is simply by way of the conversation that follows between the two men that a sense of deep unease is created within the viewer, suggesting that a force more sinister than what you may have realized at first glance, plagues the world of the film. The interrogation moves forth, as shadows continue to darken, threatening to overwhelm the characters before us. When the final revelation arrives, they have reached a point from where there is no turning back. It would be interesting to see subsequent parts of the story, or a longer project based on the same premise that would allow it to develop to its full potential.

Ondhu Kaadina Madhyadholage | Short Film of the Day

The film opens on a promising note, one that immediately sets an intriguing premise in place. A worried woman is trailing a car, soon followed by a phone call she makes to an undisclosed recipient. Once the story has the viewer's attention, it allows itself to follow a non-linear trajectory, taking the viewer a little back in time to give them a glimpse of an average household of a married couple and their young son. The strongest aspect of the film is its storytelling which takes its time revealing its core intentions to the audience. By invoking the several complexities of marriage, it further offers a significant comment about sexuality and desire between two people and how it often comes to be forced into strict categories and boxes of the normative. Further, the film is well-intentioned and puts forth a strong attempt to talk about a relevant concern. While at first glance it is about fidelity and relationships, there is a deeper, much-needed comment waiting beyond the initial impression made by the narrative. The ending, however, while sufficient for some viewers, might exhibit a want of a more definite closure for others.

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