The Indian familial space is often fraught with disagreements, a constant power tussle between the parents and their children, and the latter's attempts to reject this dynamic. Additionally, these differences are intricately tied with both oppression as well as love and care, making the situation even more complex, ensuring blurring of neat categories of affection and intolerance towards one's way of life. The film is a powerful exploration of all of this. It further offers an impactful interpretation and its own unique portrayal of the same. Viewers are introduced to two parallel plot lines, of past and present, along with a simultaneous unfolding of events in both to communicate the film's intentions in a notable manner. At its heart, the story is one common to many households - a young woman deciding to break away from the strict code of conduct set in place by her father to eventually embark upon a life of her own choosing. And yet, the manner in which it is handled and treated by the film allows the story to stand on its own two feet, without letting it have echoes or influences of the narratives before it. The major body of the drama develops around a table with a fan on it, earning the film its title - a metaphor about the two opposite sides on which the two couples sit, along with the distance between them. It is also the performances of the same characters which steal the show, effortlessly carrying the entire film on their shoulders. As for the fate of this family, when all has been said and done, will there ever be the possibility of a space of acceptance? Will familial love truly be able to conquer the divisions set in motion by human-made identities?

The Table Fan Story | Short Film of the Day

Heartwarming, uplifting and endearing, the film is a lovely story of kindness. At its opening, it gives little inkling of the direction it is headed in. Mood shots take us into a day of the protagonist's life. He is dedicated to learning more and more about the Japanese culture. Shot entirely on a smartphone, the film also evidences how a notable story can be told without any frills and fanfare. The narrative continues to develop in a linear fashion, with the scene being set for the final revelation at the climax. The story remains direct and straightforward throughout, and it is indeed in this that its true triumph and strength lies.

The Introduction | Short Film of the Day

‘Chaukhat’ is an efficiently handled engagement with a single afternoon in the life of its protagonist. The moment and its analysis is sufficient to not only give the viewer a glimpse into her life, but to also raise relevant points about the location of women within marriage as well as the domestic, familial space. 

After a busy morning, Seema is on her way to work for a crucial meeting. However, right ahead of this, her husband, Naveen informs her that his parents are coming over for lunch, ensuring that Seema has to drop everything and head back home to get the household in order for the visit. 

Even though we see an endearing equation shared within Naveen and Seema's marriage, the parents, especially the father, is expected to be far from that in his approach to the couple. The many complexities of the situation are presented to the viewer in a sincere, authentic manner, capturing the anxiety plaguing the circumstance. It is in the exploration of these nuances that the film comes into its own, eventually offering a balanced, wholesome story to the viewer.

Chaukhat | Short Film Nominee

To be uncomfortable with your sexuality or body is an experience only the person undergoing it can truly understand. For an outsider, especially in a heteronormative society where any movement away from what is considered the norm is seen as a deviant act, it often becomes a subject of ridicule, mockery and even discrimination. The perfect metaphor for it would be that only the wearer knows where the shoe bites, and it is indeed this analogy that becomes the idea guiding the narrative of the film. Made within a time frame of fifty hours, it takes us into the life of a character who battles the same dilemma of trying to fit into society, while internally being fully aware that he is different. The struggle and the protagonist's engagement is presented forth in a convincing and notable manner, allowing In My Shoes to communicate its message lucidly.

In My Shoes | Short Film Nominee

With a play on the word ‘seerat’ or a person’s inner identity or reality in its title, the narrative presents to you an experimental engagement with its premise. As the protagonist dons a mask, the plot endeavors to invoke a metaphor about identity and how we might feel the urge to conceal it behind several layers, that we posit as our own reality. This positioning is achieved not only for the world outside, but also for the person within. 

Amidst it all, is the invincible and potent role of love, and the manner in which it can mold or control the aforementioned masks. It is 'Khoobseerat'’s attempt to invoke all of these ideas for you to engage with.

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