The short film takes us into the life of a struggling actor who is a fan of Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Siddiqui struggled for decades before any recognition and that indeed is a source of inspiration for so many trying to make their way into Bollywood. They call Mumbai the city of dreams for a reason. It truly is the city where so many have covered the journey from dust to glory. However, for every tale of success and fame that we may have come across, there are at least fifty more that never made it to daylight, that were never heard or shared. Nawaz is a short film that introduces us to one such tale. But will it be of renown or oblivion? That, as is true of all stories, is anyone's guess. 

Nawaz | Short Film of the Day

The short film is a lovely, quiet delineation of the struggle of two men in Mumbai. It draws a wonderful and intelligent parallel between the stories of Rahi and Gurpreet who both moved to the city of dreams in pursuit of success in their respective careers. The intelligence of the narrative becomes most pronounced when it addresses the notions and deeply-set structures of class in the Indian society while talking about these characters. Despite the difference in their societal location, both Rahi and Gurpreet have similar battles to fight and demons to overcome that threaten to devour their hopes and aspirations. The film is a well-rounded product with elegant camerawork, strong performances and effortlessly smooth story-telling. If all of this wasn't sufficient to make it succeed, it further manages to make a deeply moving point about professional obstacles, class divisions and chasing your dreams, without making its propositions preachy, didactic or blatant.

Gunta  | Short Film of the Month

The short film is a heartfelt exploration of a fan's admiration for Amitabh Bachchan. The protagonist is no other than a familiar granny-figure who sits by herself, engaging in a household chore. The visuals make a pretty picture of a zesty woman deftly working her fingers through the peas in her lap as she gushes over the senior Bachchan. While the protagonist might modestly downplay her dedication to the actor, there is more than a little warmth to be found in her naming a dozen of his films in a single breath. The ad has an innocent intention which it manages to communicate to the viewer in an endearing manner. It's approach is one which is complete with brevity and effortless humour, further allowing it to be a lighthearted, fun watch.

Grandmother | Short Film of the Day

Made as a celebration of the 100 years of Indian cinema in 2017, the ad film is a brief, but lasting romance with the city of Mumbai. Explored through the eyes of a taxi driver, the film packs a full punch in its short duration and a notable use of handheld shots. As our protagonist regales us with his story, we find out he came to Mumbai from Allahabad and is a fan of Amitabh Bachchan. Iconic dialogues from memorable Bollywood films smoothly jump out of his mouth, reminding the viewer, that amidst the hustle and the rush indeed lies the city of dreams, harbouring the hopes and efforts of the countless, often drawn to it by the glamour of tinsel town.

The Taxi Story | Short Film of the Day

The film is about the struggles of an actor who has been trying to achieve fame and success for over a decade. However, with no such reward in sight, despite all his hard work and efforts, his domestic life is crumbling. Once a marriage of love, elopement and perhaps excitement, the household is now afflicted with poverty and the misery. Matters come to a head after a humiliating interaction with an arrogant director and his team. Things unravel one after another, leading the protagonist to respond in a way that will leave the viewer surprised, at the least. The film does not exhibit extraordinary camerawork or storytelling, but is taken several notches higher by Ashutosh Rana's skilled performance.

Test Drive | Ashutosh Rana | Short Film of the Day

Made intelligently, the narrative is hilarious and endearing in equal measure. The story is of a young boy from Chennai who is extremely passionate about Bollywood. Hence all his efforts are directed in one direction - to move to Mumbai. While everything is taken care of for the achievement of this goal, there remains one major hurdle - his complete lack of grasp on Hindi. As he goes about trying to change the same, the narrative exhibits skilled camerawork and selection of frames, convincing performances and an efficient utilisation of limited resources. Along with being an engaging story and an authentic portrayal of a young boy from Tamil Nadu (barring a slight stereotyping of people from Bihar), the film leaves the viewer with a deeper understanding of the significance of language in people's lives which goes beyond its linguistic structure.

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