A little boy, equipped with his art supplies, makes his way to a quiet spot in the lap of nature. With mountains as his only companion, he sits down to paint the scene before him. While taking down the scene exactly as it is, he stumbles across a reality he might have missed at first glance. 
As this alters his approach to his surroundings in particular, and the natural world in general, the film’s core motivation is echoed seamlessly. Art and its communion with nature lead our young protagonist to a crucial understanding of his immediate reality, further emphasizing how some of the truest, most important lessons are found in a quiet interaction with nature, and not always in classrooms. 
While adults might sometimes miss this truth, the little boy is quick to grasp it. By giving a subtle reminder to protect and preserve nature, the film also emphasizes how being aware of one's relationship with the world can also deeply enrich our lives and experiences as people who inhabit it.

Halfway | Short Film of the Day

The film documents the life of the primary inhabitants of Kaziranga National Park, the greater one-horned Indian rhinoceros. It emphasises the importance of human-animal coexistence while providing an exclusive insight into the life of the endangered species. The repercussions of yearly flooding of the park by the Brahmaputra, illegal poaching activities and other human-made problems are brought to attention. A major part of the narrative focuses on the conservation of the species by rehabilitating the separated infants in Manas National Park. 
Through its engagement with the many aspects of nature and its relationship with humankind, the film also sends out the message that even though we may be the chosen ones for dominating and advancing the world as a result of natural selection, sustainable development and protection of the sacred ecosystem is of utmost importance. There is further the suggestion that if desired, the two can indeed go hand-in-hand as well. Not only does the narrative leave the viewer with a positive development about the rhinoceros population in India which has risen to 3600 in 2020 from a mere 75 in 1905, it further reiterates that wildlife conservation is an ongoing journey which can be enriched greatly with simply a little human effort

Gainda: A Conservation Story | Short Film of the Day

The documentary highlights the importance of bees to the environment and our day-to-day life. The protagonist, a nature-lover himself, shares his journey of being a corporate employee located at the heart of a concrete jungle to being a bee conservationist. The film employs skilful camera angles to take the viewer into his world of bees, honey and his constant endeavours to protect their balance. The Bee Rescuer draws attention to several important concerns that include the aftermath of burning down even one bee hive, something an average individual would not care to think about. Consequently, the film becomes very relevant in contemporary times when the planet and the environment are already under threat, and offers coherent, comprehensive arguments, supported by lucid facts, to drive its point home.

The Bee Rescuer|Short Film of the Day

Mahesh is a very busy professional who is in a key position in a big company. However, on the day the film opens, he is preoccupied with not business matters. Instead, a child’s sketch of a tree is what has caught his attention. As he quickly wraps up his day in the middle of the afternoon, the narrative establishes that there indeed exists something more important than all the worldly successes and wealth he may have amassed so far. 
The plot moves back in time, introducing us to a young Mahesh, brought to life most ardently by the actor, who possesses a deep love for all living things that constitute nature. A closer look at his life reveals he has inherited this selflessness from his father, and now, is unable to focus on his studies, or find any joy beyond his friendship with a peepal tree, and in the birds and other parts of nature.
And now, after all these years, Mahesh once again makes his way back to his childhood haunts, only to be met with an unexpected development. 

As the story is woven around all of these developments, the film presents a relevant comment about the importance of trees when it comes to our existence, alongside drawing viewers' attention to the damaging consequences of deforestation. The comment it makes is comprehensive and sincere and brought to life by the notable dedication and effort of the cast and crew. The articulation remains clear and eventually underlines how humans can sometimes be their own worst enemy while indulging themselves in the delusion of progress and growth.

Peepal | Spotlight

At the heart of ‘Kaaval’ rests a crucial message about the conservation of wildlife which humans have exploited endlessly for their material gains. The manner of communicating the same to the viewer is defined by thrill, suspense, mystery and even a suggestion of the fantastical. 

Visuals of lush forests soon take an overwhelming turn as they are coupled with a sense of the unknown. A forest ranger, Sabari is on a quest to dispel the mystery of sounds of gunshot he had heard during the day, followed by finding the head of a dead animal floating in a stream. His path soon crosses with the unlikely Satpathy who presents to him an account of a ranger before him who went missing in the jungle, never to be found again, taking him deeper into the many secrets that lurk in this unexplored space. 
 
Matters soon come to a head when Sabari is eventually faced with a formidable foe. As he fights for his escape and survival, the narrative further ropes in action and violence, and at the end of it all, ties them together to present the final narrative as a balanced whole, along with an emphasis on its pressing, educational message about the protection of wildlife.

Kaaval - Under The Watchful Eyes | Short Film Nominee

Ensconced within the wilderness of Madhya Pradesh is the Pench National Park where the film takes us. The park is home to hundreds of different types of birds, as well as scores of animals. With only a small percentage available for tourism, for endeavors like the safari we go on with the film, the rest of the park remains the abode to predators and their prey, to the grazing herbivores as well as the many colorful birds. The film introduces us to the beautifully balanced ecosystem of the space, with special moments like the sighting of a 14-year-old tigress with a limp in her paw. 

A conversation around the preservation of the ecosystem, along with fighting man-made problems like poaching, and natural disasters like cyclones and storms is also presented to the viewer. Tying its visual progression with stills sometimes takes away some of the narrative's seamlessness. Perhaps more mood shots of the space itself could have enhanced this aspect. On the whole, however, the film remains a long, heartfelt glimpse into a marvelous pocket of nature and the community that supports and nurtures it.

The Land of the Jungle Book | Short Film Nominee

Riyan has been given the task of cutting down trees for the construction of a road by his senior. As he gets to the task of achieving the same, his paths cross with a very unexpected presence in Cedari. The two embark on a journey of friendship and affection, alongside which the film’s narrative comes into being. 

Through the portrayal of the experiences and the memories of the protagonist, an important social comment is pronounced in the film, one about the absolute need to preserve and protect trees. The narrative further points out how development in the name of progress, and regressive superstitious practices, both are capable of causing equal harm to our flora. It also emphasizes that love for nature can translate into all our relationships with other people, and enrich our lives deeply. The film shares all of these ideas with the viewer by employing its writing and screenplay with ease.

Kalaye Vasantham | Short Film Nominee

‘Wake Up’ is a sweet story about a reality we are all too familiar with - the obsession of little ones with smartphones and technology, and the struggle of their parents to wean them off screens. 

The same is portrayed by introducing us to a mother and her young son who refuses to let go of the games on a mobile phone. However, the mother is one step ahead, and comes up with a simple idea to divert his attention elsewhere. While it might be difficult to shake a child out of the hold that technology has on them, it might not always be their fault as well, the narrative suggests. Sometimes it could be something as plain as lack of things to do or boredom. If they are guided towards a constructive activity, who is to say things won't be different?

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