The short film attempts a strong and relevant comment on a society which is fixated on consumerism and generating financial wealth at the cost of the suffering of innumerable, unheard voices. While the rich get richer, the hapless plight of so many continues. Toyhouse uses an object as innocent as a toy to draw attention to the murky reality underneath it. It packs strong performances but runs into the danger of spiralling into vagueness. Nevertheless, it leaves the viewer with a moving picture of the struggle to survive in a world where power is confined and controlled by the moneyed class.

Toyhouse | Short Film of the Day

The film pivots itself on a very unique premise - the patenting of all abuses and swear words all over the world. In the true spirit of capitalism, a businessman, played by Piyush Mishra, decides to make money out of one of the most common practices globally - swearing. The film goes back to India's Classical past to prove its point in a humorous manner. It draws attention to the various situations where swearing has become so commonplace that we no longer even realise it's presence. However, what happens when someone begins to demand money for the same? Of course things go topsy-turvy and the nation is hurled in a state of chaos. From monthly budgets to being used as a tool to show off your wealth - swearing finds its place everywhere. During few of its moments, the film runs the danger of being crass, however a speech in defense of patenting swearing by Mishra towards the end, pulls it back together. It is also important to approach the film with the right mindset, to see it as harmless, lighthearted comedy, and perhaps the viewer would then come out satisfied at the end of it all.

The Great Indian Gaaliban | Short Film Nominee

The film does a notable job of invoking the cyclical nature of debt that financial structures thrive on at the expense of an average person. The story is of a farmer in Tamil Nadu who takes a loan for his son's education, both characters performed convincingly by the actors. Once his education is complete, the son moves to a metropolitan city to repay the loan with his job. However, in the city lies its own set of distractions that sink him deeper into debt. As despair grips Kathir, along with the isolation of being in a city which doesn't accept him for who he is, he finds himself taking a disturbing, extreme step. Through the tragic story of a father-son duo, the film comments on how entrapping the web of debt can be, often blinding the person of the pitfalls of money that is provided to them instantly. The narrative also tries to comment on culture gap and the pressure to fit in.

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links