'Shades of a Kite' brings to the screen a powerful narrative about a haunted house and the manner in which it threatens the safety of a family that has recently moved there. Anna, a single mother, shifts to a house in a new city with her three-year-old daughter. The film unfolds to reveal a sense of deep disconcertment which is achieved with dimly lit visuals, marked by their deliberate instability to disorient the viewer. The handheld shots when combined with the greys on screen produce an unease, and the invocation of this very sentiment allows the film to be successful in its endeavor to be a horror story. 

In terms of thought, the plot draws attention to differing ideas that conform to science and spirituality, the question of the supernatural in the logical world of mental health experts. All of this is further enhanced by beautiful animation that adds a new dimension to the story. When coupled with notable graphics and convincing performances, the film indeed becomes a successful product as well as an enjoyable viewing experience for all horror enthusiasts.

Shades of a Kite | Short Film of the Month

The little moments that constitute life are weaved together most seamlessly in this anthology of short films. From the loneliness of old age, and a deep desire to reconnect with someone, to the little joys of simply eating an ice cream - the thematic concerns are far and wide across the spectrum, and yet never out of synchronisation with one another. Each story that the film offers is more powerful than the other, and is bound to stay with the viewer long after they are done watching it. The subtle, but potent commentary the narrative presents on issues of gender, misogyny are loud and clear, without falling in the trap of sentimentalism. Additionally, the film's insight on old age and mental health is noteworthy. The performances and portrayal of all the characters enhance the stories further, ensuring that often only the eyes are sufficient to express and communicate the intended sentiment, even before the film makes it explicit for you. All of these elements together allow Jump Cuts to work on several levels, making its success well-rounded and complete in itself.

Jump Cuts | Short Film of the Month

‘Ayak’’s world is constructed with a controlled, and steady hand, taking the viewer into the story gradually, but irrevocably. The sustained pace ensures that even though the dialogue in the film is frugal, you are deeply invested in the fate of the protagonist. Manu has arrived at the Forest of Chithari to perform an age-old ritual that takes place every twenty years. 

The forest is not only the abode of innumerable secrets and unsaid things, but also of forces far beyond Manu’s comprehension. The story that began in ancient Egypt, is about to come to fruition with his arrival for the ritual. Ayak, or the potion that unites one with the gods, is soon presented to him in the most unlikely circumstances. 

As the events unfold, the film puts forth a narrative that is quiet, but stern. It employs no sudden thrills or jump scares to unsettle the viewer, and still ensures that it remains disconcerting throughout. The visuals of the vast expanses enhance it manifold, as do the smooth edit and the screenplay. The seamless weaving of all of these elements allows 'Ayak' to become a beautiful final result that is not simply defined by mystery or thrill, but also by an element of fantasy and something terrible awaiting right around the corner.

Ayak | Short Film of the Year

The short film is beautiful in terms of the pacing, the tone and the narrative it weaves using its visuals. Marked by seamlessness and sophistication, the poetry takes the viewer into a world of shadows which conceal some magical beings and all that they carry within themselves. The writing is notable and employs words smartly and poignantly to convey its intentions. The film is specifically relevant in contemporary times for it carries an important social message, urging the viewer to not forget to light up the lives of those we may have, knowingly or unknowingly, forced into oblivion and forgetfulness, especially during the pandemic. The communication is lucid, coherent, skilled, and manages to convey it all in a moving manner.

The Invisible Humans  | Short Film of the Month

Two men, employees of the local hospital, have arrived in a new town for work with their respective day and night shifts. Their living quarters have already been allotted, and they have little say in the matter, even when the strangest occurrences begin. 

The house is dusty with bad wiring and flickering lights. For one of them, who is more inclined towards astrology and a belief in the supernatural, the house seems like the perfect setting for a haunting. Additionally, the quarter has a dark history and a brutal past that includes a woman and her baby. It is in this manner that the decrepit house with its old, forgotten objects, attains a life of its own when nights become plagued with singing in a woman’s voice. 

The background score, screenplay and visual grammar construct an eerie world with seamlessness and skill. At the same time, the writing explores the many forms fear can take, and what it eventually comes to mean for both of our characters. All of these components ensure that the story is realized with impact, and that the end result conveys the film’s core message expertly, and with clarity.

Pallavi Ammal  | Short Film of the Month

‘Tholumadan’ are monsters that take human form and kill anyone who recognises their true identity. The film, set in the early 1960s, introduces the viewer to this truth of its realm right at the start, immediately establishing the tone of what is to come. We explore this world through the eyes of Appu, a little boy who impatiently awaits the return of his father from the Indo-China War. 

In the face of news of all kinds of tragedies, and against all hope, Appu’s father returns, but the war has left him completely changed. Through engagement with the trauma that he still carries in his heart, taking the form of all kinds of inexplainable situations for the little boy in Appu, we are presented a world of horrifying realizations - a different kind of horror for adults, one of wars and PTSD, and of completely different kinds for a child, of monsters that only masquerade as humans, but perform strange acts in the darkness of the night. The film explores all of this with skill and very controlled dialogue, the gaps filled with a thoughtful and expert background score. The action unfolding on screen also keeps the viewer engaged, finally presenting a story that employs trauma as horror.

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