‘Reduva’ or radio is a story marked by immense visual drama that very adroitly portrays all the thematic preoccupations of the film. Ramphal cherishes a gift from long ago, presented to him on the night of his marriage - a radio. His constant companion now in old age, the gadget remains deeply embedded in his life. 

Alongside this endearing equation, however, is the alcoholism of his unemployed son who only brings trouble home in the form of domestic abuse, drunken brawls, and injuries that become a financial strain on the already struggling family. 

The film ropes it all in with seamless visuals that are sustained with control, ensuring that every emotion is presented to the viewer lucidly. While there may be a sense of hope in the manner Ramphal’s grandson comes to his aid and reveals an unexpected, precocious moment of tenderness, the circumstance with his son continues to deteriorate. The story that is thus presented to the viewer is meaningful and involving, allowing the film to share all its intentions with ease.

Reduva | Short Film of the Month

The film opens in a bleak world of alcoholism and domestic abuse. Located at its heart is the protagonist, who despite the immense hardship of those around him, specifically two women he deeply loves and worries for, is determined to reverse his fate. The film presents a sense of iron will to rise above one’s tribulations, the idea of breaking out of one's cage and shackles, and always looking to the sky. The performances and writing both bring these intentions to life with notable skill and potential. However, can hope and the desire to change one’s lot truly overcome the challenges life might have up its sleeve? 

The question remains central to the narrative, eventually being presented as well as answered at the film’s climax. The storytelling paves the path for a longer, more detailed project that engages with the world shared with the viewer in this short.

Aasmaani Kabootar | Spotlight

While battling a chronic illness is an extremely draining experience for the sufferer, another crucial aspect of it is the life and experiences of the carer. The burden, for that is what such a lived reality would always inevitably lead to, of taking care of a loved one is capable of achieving overwhelming proportions, eventually finding an expression in unexpected, and often bitter, manners. The plot of the film preoccupies itself with the same as its primary concern, taking the viewer into the life of a young woman who takes care of her mother. Though the film does not explicitly name it, but the latter is assumed to be battling an addiction to alcohol, while also having her movement compromised, leaving her confined to a wheelchair for the better part of her days. Alcoholism, a severe disease to overcome, can often lead its sufferer to an inability to stay away from the very thing that harms them. And yet, despite it being a demanding condition, the brunt of it is left to be faced by the young daughter, whose father and grandmother live separately. All of these details are provided to the viewer subtly, within the short duration of the film, allowing it to eschew sentimentalism, and yet manage to tell a poignant story. It also employs the simple act of tying or untying her hair to portray a character's emotional reality, along with using a gentle graze of parallelism in the form of a mirror, a significant motif in the narrative, to bring to life the woman's struggle on screen in a convincing manner.

Shut Up | Short Film of the Day

The short film is an engagement with domestic abuse and the plight of a woman stuck in an abusive marriage. While delineating the same, it unwittingly also offers a paradigmatic example of the cycle of violence and hate. The story is a notable feature of the film as is its execution. However, it loses in the technical department of lighting and camerawork, an aspect that keeps it from being all that it could have been. Overall, it is a zealous, well-intentioned attempt to draw the viewer's attention to a deeply disturbing part of marital dynamics as well as the location of women in a patriarchal society.

Gajra | Short Film Nominee

Arjun has recently returned to his hometown for a short while from the city. On his first day itself, he is surprised by his father with a new vehicle, along with love being showered on him by his mother. This treatment of his father towards him is in direct contrast with that meted out to his brother, Karna. 
At the same time, there are elements of horror, thrill, and a suggestion of the supernatural, that are attempted to be weaved within the story. Jodu Marga, a small stretch of a street, is infamous for road accidents in the darkness of the night. 

The story develops, and Arjun finds himself suspecting everyone's involvement in the foul play behind this haunting which has plagued the small town for years. As the truth is revealed, the narrative mentions mental health, alcoholism, the isolation and loneliness of depression, familial dynamics and the adverse consequences of them all on someone’s life. It is in putting together these aspects that the film presents its intentions to you.

Jodu Marga | Short Film Nominee

The story is of abuse, pain, familial disharmony and relationships gone sour. A man has grown up in a household where his alcoholic father would regularly abuse his mother and the children. As the father now lies on his deathbed, he desires to see his son. However, the latter is unable to overcome his bitterness to meet him. While he struggles with the memories of his past, the viewer is given a glimpse into what truly went on within the family - from domestic violence to an attempted suicide. However, will the passage of time allow the son to finally be able to forgive his father?

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