Masala Steps is the story of a couple who has been married for a short while, and have reached a certain
stage where they are facing communication problems. The husband is undergoing a critical
crisis in his professional life which makes him stressed. His loving wife is a homemaker who is dedicated
to uplifting his mood by preparing new dishes for him every day. She sees him acting vexed and worries
for him, but her husband stays aloof. 
The plot may seem run-of-the-mill, but the film’s commitment to the subject draws one’s
attention to introspection of the larger questions involving filmmaking itself. The plot is committed to
accepting the mundane, symbolised by the husband. The mundane is crude, cruel and real. However,
the expectation of the audience is to constantly seek for the extraordinary in the mundane, symbolised
by the concerns of the wife. The romanticisation of even the most ordinary things is what the spectator
desires. The balancing of both drives is at the heart of Masala Steps which, supported by the craft of its
lead actors, makes it a real pull.

Masala Steps | Short Film Nominee

Oral Culture is simply a conversation between two characters about the deep infestation of technology in our lives and the modifications in human existence it might lead to. As the two friends prepare for a night of drinking, they find themselves unable to agree on the extent to which smartphones and related technology is capable of affecting communication. The narrative is simple, effortless and does not try to be anything it's not, which works as a charm in its favour. The same can be said about the actors which render their performance with an honesty that leaves the viewer with a convincing glimpse into an evening spent by three friends.

Oral Culture | Short Film Nominee

The short film introduces you to a character who needs no provocation or pauses to hold a conversation entirely on his own. As he moves from one hapless listener to another, from cab drivers to unsuspecting shopkeepers, his rambles about his life, relationships, past and family continue. 
 With little attention paid to what the other person is up to or their level of preoccupation, he goes forth sharing his experiences and thoughts. Up until this moment in the narrative, the tone is lighthearted and silly, almost at the expense of the protagonist himself. However, it soon takes a darker turn, roping in emotions of loneliness and denial of companionship. We now see him as an isolated character, removed from society and the joys of friendship. 
 As he unburdens himself before Beatle, a friendly dog, all of these emotions are invoked for the viewer to engage with. The narrative continues to develop, and just when one might assume that only a bleak conclusion awaits this story, it takes another turn, this time to usher in a hopeful, positive outlook.

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