Right at the opening of the film, Hanif, a contract killer, betrays his partner Tyagi, and pays a hefty price for it. His brutal murder at the hands of the protagonist also establishes betrayal as an important thematic concern of the plot. The rest of the narrative develops to include violence, a horrifying twist of events, and the suggestion of more than one life being lost in the tumult of it all. The protagonist is a police officer who is late for his anniversary celebration. However, calls from his wife only enrage him, revealing the anger simmering within the character. The portrayal of the police officer is achieved with skill which, in turn, strengthens the film. The screenplay is structured to invoke horror, thrill, and a sense of suspense within the viewer as it develops. Exhibiting a want of tighter control on its edit and sound mixing, the end result still presents an earnest effort to conjure a narrative marked by the darkest secrets, and a grotesque subversion of a celebratory occasion like an anniversary.

Happy Anniversary | Short Film Nominee

Amrita waits for her husband on their anniversary. She's planned a small little surprise for him. She is
inflating balloons, sprinkling red rose petals, putting decoration pieces across the room. Yet, for all of
this infusion of colour, the general vibe is ominous. Instead of being accentuated through
complementing music, these gestures are cast in pin-drop silence. A silence so stark that you’re wary of an impending doom. 
The day turns to evening, then to night. The balloons are deflating, the decorations are falling off, yet
her husband doesn’t arrive. For a brief moment, the narrative gives us momentous, tragic information.
Just when we’re on the verge of believing that as truth, we see a key turn in the door handle.

Happy Anniversary | Lockdown Film Challenge

We are told that a loving husband prepares to surprise his spouse with a perfectly planned evening for
their wedding anniversary. There are fairy lights, and sweet talk about all the arrangements he has made.
We hear his anticipation, his excitement on seeing the surprise on his beloved’s face. However, the
mood of the film is eerie from the start. One can tell something is amiss, and the viewer is already
guessing possible mishaps. 
The red tint, the close up shot, the shadows on the wall are attempts to create an atmospheric intensity.
But the film doesn’t fully realise itself and leave a few stones unturned in moving the viewer in the way it had perhaps intended to.

Saalgirah | Short Film Nominee

The film develops as a narrative of suspense, thrill and dark secrets waiting to get unearthed any moment. It is the story of one night when a thunderous storm has disrupted a woman's plans, leading her to take shelter in the house of an unsuspecting neighbour. Suspicious things are afoot from the word go, and matters finally come to a head as darkness, both metaphorical and literal, engulfs the film. The plot and writing of Bhuyo exhibit notable potential, as does the dedication of the filmmaker and their team to tell the story. The film, however, could have gained from a smoothness in visuals and edit.

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