The short films opens with the planning of a conspiracy to overthrow the British. The year is 1947, Indians are languishing under the colonial rule and it's time to take matters in their own hands. To achieve the same, youngsters from across India have collected in a remotely located hut. While the plan is hatched in shadows, faces soon become brighter and clearer as it seems to be taking a more defined form. After fighting the darkness of internal conflict, as is also conveyed by literal momentary darkness on screen, the lamp is lit and the path is found once again. The film, which is set in a time when leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru were at the forefront of the freedom struggle, also offers a critique of the nationalist movement. Finally, The Insignificant closes with an interesting thought - all representatives of different parts of the country want freedom, but is that all that they truly want?

The Insignificant | Short Film of the Day

A man is lazing in his room, watching something on a laptop, when he is interrupted by two disgruntled, indifferent cops. They have arrived at his doorstep looking for his missing girlfriend, Akshaya. However, because she has been off the grid for barely a day, both cops are sure she will eventually turn up at one of her friends’ house. With the case at hand taken care of, they decide to allow themselves a moment to unwind which is then spent in complaining about their job, colleagues and seniors. The film has a remarkable approach to storytelling. The manner in which it blurs genres, from dramedy to thriller, is also notable. Additionally, a theatrical quality is applied to its visuals to further bring the story to life, while confining them to the fixed space of a single room. All of these elements together lead to a successful execution of the plot and narrative.

The Dude and the White Rose | Short Film of the Day

'Ooru' is a story of one’s roots that are deeply entrenched within the land they belong to, whether or not they realize it. A man returns to his village from the city to visit his father, only to find a terrible development awaiting him - his unexpected demise. 

Though the music video may have opened with the protagonist's affinity for the city life, things take a sudden turn now that he finds his father’s land under threat. Through the song and music that is invoked, the film presents an impactful narrative of one’s legacy and deep ties with their origins. Equally strong visuals of the outdoors support the endeavor further, leaving no stone unturned in communicating the thematic concerns of the end result.

Ooru | Short Film Nominee

The first instance that the viewer encounters in the film is a harmless situation of a mother nagging her son to be more responsible. So far, so good, right? Wrong for this, in no way, prepares you for what is to come, and when it finally does, it takes a moment to realise what truly hit you. The narrative is conceived beautifully, making its writing the most notable aspect of the film, with the visuals at a close second. Before you know it, our two characters have found themselves in a deep mess with little to no escape possible. Moments of humour are tied with elements of crime and drama seamlessly to ensure that you remain at the edge of your seat throughout, completely blindsided by the events that will continue to unfold. There indeed is no rest for the wicked as we learn from the misfortunes of our characters who take us along on this bumpy ride of unexpected violence, the consequent panic and the desperate attempts to find a way out of it. As broken glass bottles become their biggest foe, leading them to terrifying situations, the film covers a long distance between its opening and closing visuals, keeping you involved the whole time.

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