Neelakanta Bar | Short Film Nominee

Short Film Nominee June 18, 2020

Neelakanta Bar

By Dheeraj Reddy with 6.7

crime · Short Films · telugu

Positing itself as crime fiction at the start, the film goes ahead to bring in elements of suspense, mystery and unexpected twists. The plot unfolds parallely alongside the mythological story of Neelakanta and the origin of this particular name of the Hindu god Shiva. With metaphors echoing a reality of gods and demons within the plot of the film itself, the viewer is presented with an engaging narrative about greed, lust, heartache, revenge and above all, money.

The film chooses an eponymous bar for the majority of its action. As different characters sit exchanging experiences, as well as arguments, oblivious of each other, the audience is allowed a moment of knowledge about their shared fate that transcends their own awareness. Overall, the film becomes a zealous attempt to put forth its plot, marked by some noteworthy performances, and a sincerity of attempt and execution. While it may have begun as a crime story, it further brings in thrill, and elements of abuse and violence to enhance itself, albeit potentially disconcerting for the sensitive viewer. The final product, however, would have benefited from better control on light and shadows in order to have achieved more fine-tuned visuals.
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