Lokesh and Verma sit inside a car, discussing an imminent meeting and everything that it could entail for the younger Verma. Drawing from his many years of experience, Lokesh shares wisdom on not losing your nerve during a crucial time and, in the process, forever staving off regret, which can sometimes be a crumbling burden. 

A bouquet of flowers rests on the dashboard, suggesting the intimate and romantic nature of the encounter that is about to take place. The entirety of the conversation unfolds from the fixed frame perspective of a single-take, employed seamlessly to further give us a glimpse into the action that is about to follow as well as one that goes beyond the dialog and the screenplay. 

The film’s execution, storytelling, and the chemistry of its actors all portray its intentions with skill and ease. The end result in its brevity is not only entertaining and involving but also presents a narrative that is constructed with thought and attention.

LO-VE | Short Film of the Month

The entirety of the narrative is constituted by a single conversation between two men, pivoting on the metaphor of a bridge. Both located at vastly different ends of the social and financial spectrum, their experiences allow them one brief moment of overlap, to eventually give way to a tragedy. With his personal as well as professional life in tatters, a powerful corporate magnate finds himself at the end of his rope. The moment of the introduction of his circumstance to the audience is also accompanied by the knowledge of him having little to no idea about the life and experiences of his driver, a man with whom he has spent the better part of twenty-five years. As the conversation allows the man to make an important decision about the course of the rest of his life, the film suggests that sometimes the very crucial turning points are determined by the smallest realizations which truly make all the difference in the long run. Additionally, the film has smooth visuals, but loses points when it comes to effortlessness of the flow of the conversation between its two actors.

Pul | Short Film Nominee

The seemingly single-take narrative takes us into a conversation between two characters. It is a mundane night when a man is on his way home from work. On the phone with a woman, he discusses his day with her, and we are taken deeper into both of their lives. Soon, terrible events begin to develop, revealing that the woman is now in the way of some great peril. As we listen to her panicky voice alongside the protagonist, little seems to be possible to help her in this dire circumstance. The short film is based on a story by Pascal Chatterjee titled ‘Annie96 is typing…’. Though not the first endeavor to model itself on the story, ‘The Call’ brings its own unique voice to weave the narrative, and portray all that constitutes it.

The Call | Short Film Nominee

In an attempt to be a heartfelt conversation with the self and its various hues and shades, the short film brings together a poetic narrative. A man takes the viewer through several emotions and the manner in which they have come to define the different aspects of his life. The tone is marked by introspection and deep emotion. As the narrator meanders across the various troughs and crests of life's several stages, a sense of romance and intimacy is also invoked. This, in turn, allows the poetry to come across as sincere, lucidly sharing with the viewer all of its concerns, undercurrents and propositions.

Tehelne Nikla Hu | Short Film Nominee

Two men, alcohol and the darkness of the night - three essential components constitute the world of ‘Bangla’. The title of the film is a clear reminder of language which, in turn, echoes the primary driving force of the film. Communication and conversation propel the narrative forward as the characters before us discuss their lives in a state of inebriation. 

There is drinking, banter, cussing, some more drinking, and a quiet, wry acknowledgment of the many tribulations of existence. Though the film stands to gain from a firmer control on its lighting and sound, more so if the visuals are choosing dim-lit frames, there remains an intrinsic sense of poetry within the narrative.

Bangla | Short Film Nominee

The short film is an engagement with several aspects of a man's approach to art and how it becomes a means of protest for him in several ways. From familial rejection to attempts to find space for himself in society, the short film invokes all of these concerns, and provides an inner conversation of the protagonist for the viewer to participate in.

Virodh | Lockdown Film Challenge

Two men, one night and a chance encounter - this sums up the narrative of the film. It is the story of two characters from different ends of society whose paths cross with each other in an unexpected manner. While one of them struggles to make ends meet on a daily basis, the other is battling overpowering internal demons that have now left him feeling defeated and surrendered. The former stumbles across the latter's wallet, grabbing on to it greedily. However, when he realises that the owner of the wallet is completely indifferent to his material belongings, it becomes apparent to both him and the viewer that the latter is headed towards a point of no return. In the process, the film becomes a conversation on suicide, a reminder to not give in and the suggestion that no matter how tough the going gets, there can still be little pockets of hope, albeit concealed by shadows, but waiting to be unearthed.

Abandonment | Short Film Nominee

Using elements of both thrill and mystery, the short film invokes an atmosphere marked by shadows and darkness. It conceals more than it reveals, leading both the protagonist as well as the viewer to absolute uncertainty about the fate of the former. One evening, he finds himself the recipient of an unusual text message by a friend which makes little to no sense to him. This is followed by a knock on the door by an invisible guest as well as a more bewildering turn of events on his phone. The plot offers more questions and doubts, and the one person who might have some answers, an unnamed and unknown character, seems to only complicate things further. As the protagonist struggles with these rapidly unfolding proceedings, what will truly be his fate?

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