A group of young men at the heart of intense caste politics form the film's backbone. With the police in cahoots with the upper caste Yogesh, there is nothing stopping his reign of terror over the Dalits of this little town, Kasganj, in the northern parts of India. Alongside it, the innocent but resilient romance of Sheetal and Chandan is beginning to define itself in the face of the oppressive caste forces. 

The town is home to Thakur Gali, a lane through which no lower caste procession shall pass. When Chandan is denied permission to let his wedding party through, a terrible story develops which holds the potential to redefine the existing cultural and political map. With the imminent election, another influential member of the group, Badri, has quite a different approach than Yogesh to the increasingly rising tensions. 

The film is marked by evident potential when it comes to storytelling and constructing a world rooted in a terribly unsettling reality. It further exhibits the dedication of its cast and crew to bring it to life. The narratorial interweaving, constituted by action, deceit, intrigue, violence, and emotional complexity, should definitely be explored more in future endeavors.

Kasganj | Spotlight

The film shares a pertinent comment about class and the many ways class-based exploitation disenfranchises people of the most basic rights. When two cops find a man passed out at a construction site, they immediately nab him under suspicion of theft. Despite all his pleas and attempts to provide a clean track record, no one offers him any respite or benefit of the doubt. 

His employers, corrupt builders themselves who flout laws, or are simply unwilling to engage with the cops, wash their hands off him, leaving the unfortunate man at the mercy of the officers. When they refuse to believe in his innocence, despite all his pleading, there is only one way left for him to turn. By presenting the desperate protagonist and all his futile attempts, thus, along with notable performances, the narrative offers insight into society's power structures and corruption.

Lost in Labour | Short Film Nominee

‘Badastur’ echoes the idea of the status quo, and in the process, raises questions that eventually become primary forces within the narrative. When a man’s path crosses with a woman, Sunaina, the most terrible reality begins to unfold. Having borrowed money from a man, she is now at the receiving end of cruel extortion which is about to take the form of a sexual assault. The protagonist begins to invest his energy in helping her, and the film’s intentions are thus allowed delineation. Moments of high tension and anxiety define the plot progression as the circumstance begins to come dangerously close to a horrifying development. The film invokes ideas of corruption, of changing the order of things and finally questioning and altering the subsequent wrongs that have existed in society all along. Though not entirely lacking in imperfections when it comes to the progression of events, the storytelling and performances exhibit skill and competency.

Badastur | Short Film Nominee

The film is essentially the story of a journalist who is made to work to the bone by his employer, and yet, when he uncovers an important story, perhaps the kind of undertaking that would make his otherwise soulless job meaningful, he finds his path strewn with all kinds of obstacles. The story ropes in several concerns like corruption, nepotism, privilege and the clout all of these allow an individual, while also offering an interesting portrayal of life away from the predominantly metropolitan narratives that constitute much of the mainstream visual space. The narrative thus deserves full points for its dedicated endeavour as well as the intention to share a relevant and significant story about the experiences of an average person in a society where innumerable factors threaten to curb his freedom in different ways at every step.

Angoisse | Short Film Nominee

Sister Swathi is a kind-hearted person who has devoted her life to helping others. One day her path crosses with Raju’s, a young boy who makes a living by fulfilling small jobs like selling water at the bus stop or being a porter at the railway station, among others. When the film opens, we are taken into a non-linear narrative which gradually presents to us this equation between the two characters. 

Nestled within it are several unresolved concerns which eventually come to weigh on Sister Swathi, leading her to seek counsel from a mental health expert. The ensuing conversation raises important points about exploitation, tragedy, and the manner in which they come to affect a person’s dreams. The film is a well-intentioned, devoted story about kindness, and providing others the help they need, and not the one that you want to offer. Along with this, it also carries a reminder about letting go of past grievances in order to make way for the joys of the future.

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