The film attempts a powerful message, especially relevant in contemporary times, in its short duration, employing a simple, lucid narrative. The most notable aspect of Mehtab (Light of the Moon) are the wonderful visuals, seamlessly weaved together to present its story to the viewer. Essentially, the film is a glimpse into a girl's life who eagerly awaits her father's letters. One day, when instead of going to class, she decides to sit down with sweets and one of the letters, what important message awaits her? The film is calm in its approach, and succeeds in applying it in a wonderful manner. Further, the eponymous name of the protagonist serves as a metaphor for light, both in her own life where a single mother takes care of her, as well as in a world that finds itself plagued with discrimination and communal disharmony.

Mehtab | Short Film of the Day

As India remains a nation ravaged by huge protests against the NRC (National Register of Citizens) and CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), artists have taken it upon themselves to use their work to declare their allegiance. The rap song is one of the firsts on the topic, rejecting the Indian government's decision in no equivocal terms. It uses real life footage of protest rallies and the clamping down of the authorities to convey its point. In an increasingly political time and age, when art cannot help, but become a political expression of one's beliefs and ideologies, the song does its bit to raise a call for action and to further remind the viewer that their silence indeed is a louder comment than they realise. For a country that is up in flames in its fight against discrimination, Streetocracy is an assertion of the power of the ordinary people and their democratic right to protest.

Streetocracy | Osapraka | ft Shumais, Manosh | Expat Alive

Trigger warning: violence, graphic content 

The film documents real life accounts of the anti-CAA protests that were carried out in Delhi against the highly controversial act. These experiences are further tied with metaphorical images and symbolism to drive the message home. The narrative covers the protests, the police brutality and violence that took place at the Jamia Millia Islamia university, followed by the riots that rocked the north eastern part of the national capital in early 2020. At the heart of the documentary film is the message of secularism and unity, and further a reminder to not let communal lines divide the nation. The narrative is true and honest to its subject matter, which is precisely why it might prove to be a triggering viewing experience for the sensitive audience.

Acts of Valor | Short Film Nominee

The short narrative is a dedicated attempt in making an unequivocal comment about the CAA-NRC debate that shook the country in the recent past. As hundreds of thousands of people took to streets to protest against the demand to prove one's nationality if they belonged to a certain community or religion, ideas of unity, community and what it means to be an Indian became a crucial part of our daily discourse. 

'Khwaab' is an endeavor in furthering the same conversation by showing the dependency of a woman on her Muslim domestic help, one whose identity is in direct line of threat as a result of political and national developments. The final result exhibits potential in storytelling and visuals which further evidence the desire to experiment.

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links