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

The film packs all the punches of a quintessential drama - there is romance, heartbreak, friendship, comedic moments, and the protagonist's unwavering persistence of following his dream of becoming a filmmaker. It is in this pursuit that the plot perhaps blurs the line between art and real life for the viewer, simply on the basis of the universal and relatable nature of the premise. It won't be erroneous to have several viewers seeing themselves reflected in the struggles of the protagonist as he endeavours to go against all obstacles that include nepotism, financial might of his peers and counterparts, and even the mischief of those who revel in his failures while donning the garb of well-wishers. Written & Directed By succeeds in its devotion and dedication to storytelling, to allow its narrative to unfold for its audience in the manner it does. It puts together a logical progression of events, involving, entertaining and surprising the audience in equal measure with its turn of events. The camerawork is notable, further supplemented by familiar faces from the realms of cinema and the web space. The film, however, could have benefited from an overall finesse that would have allowed it to be more than what it already is - a feel-good, engaging and well-rounded product.

Written & Directed By | Short Film Nominee

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.

Other Tongue | Short Film of the Day

Bukhaar is an extremely exciting film. From the moment it begins, it keeps on amazing the viewer
with its attention to detail. From the tiny nuances in the gestures of the character, the language, to the way the screenplay reveals one facet over another, one could tell that it has
been made by a skilled filmmaker, along with a team of seasoned professionals who are at ease with the process. 
It is the story of superstar Ronit Kapoor and his alter ego, Satyendra, or vice-versa. The lead actor,
Abhinay Bansod, whether he is imitating someone or devising his own poetics, is drawing in the
viewer all the same. The only point of reservation is the treatment of the character’s mental illness or
his darker side, so as to say. The temptation to make a moral or social statement out of his ambition overpowers the larger idea of the narrative, the fantasy that the story thrives upon, one which is also the more special part of the film.

Bukhaar | Short Film Nominee

The short film opens on a note where a man is precariously balancing himself on the railing of a terrace, saying his apologies to the world, clearly about to jump. Now, owing to the title of the film, the viewer can perhaps assume at first glance that this is probably a set-up for a shoot, and that the character is not truly about to take his life. However, this misconception is soon dispelled by the narrative, and a far darker reality is revealed. 

By invoking the story of a man on the brink of suicide and who has called his friend over to record his final goodbyes on camera, the film brings to attention the dark underbelly of the world of fashion, cinema and entertainment. These realms are marked by their exploitation and abuse, both sexual and mental, of desperate young professionals. It is interesting that the film chooses a male protagonist to share his story, reminding the viewer that this form of oppression is not limited to a particular gender. 

The film simply wants to offer a comment on the extent of damage they can have on a person's psyche, while also roping in a reminder for the audience about the importance of mental health and why encouraging conversation on the topic is of utmost importance.

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