It's the little moments that make up life as well as a good short film. Katran, a glimpse into these seemingly unimportant moments, is the story of an elderly couple which has decided to part ways after three decades of marriage. The chemistry between Piyush Mishra and Alka Amin beautifully captures the conflict and makes it the strongest aspect of the narrative. The protagonists are supported most efficiently by the other characters in the film which make brief, but not any less significant appearances. As the story progresses, it becomes clear to the viewer that separation indeed is the most peaceful and ideal solution for the couple. However is that the path they will also eventually choose to move ahead?

Katran | Piyush Mishra | Short Film of the Day

People often make the mistake of associating gender sensitivity with a particular class or group of people. However, this short film goes to prove that being respectful and non-discriminatory isn't really the question of what language you speak or where you belong. The film opens on the wedding night of a young couple, clearly inexperienced in sex. It wonderfully encapsulates their hesitation and nervousness with much credit owed to the writing as well as the performances of Saurabh Goyal and Preety Sharma. While the boy seems to be infatuated with the new bride, his parents' have very different concerns. The short film attempts to call out regressive and demeaning practices that are often enforced in the name of tradition. It also draws attention to the manner in which it affects the mental health of women and young brides across the country.

Seal | Short Film of the Day

Imagine a couple in love that has run away from their home and family. They find themselves in the hills because the man, who grew up there, wants to show his beloved all his childhood haunts. If your first instinct was to imagine a young couple dancing around trees, then this short film is for you. It attempts to break the stereotype of love and relationships belonging only to a fixed age group by taking us into the lives of its protagonists, inhabitants of an old age home. As they traverse their memories of love, loss and childhood rivalries, there is perhaps one last battle to be won. Lillette Dubey is breathtaking in the film, supported by Mohan Agashe in the most endearing manner. Purana Pyaar also deserves praise for its writing and storytelling.

#PuranaPyaar | Short Film of the Day

When a happily married man waits for his wife, lying beside him in bed, to fall asleep so that he can take his
phone to the bathroom, the viewer usually expects only one cause for the behaviour - the man is having
an affair with another woman. When a short film opens with a scene like that, it already launches itself
into an uphill battle as warding off such a deeply entrenched memory/bias of the viewer is a challenge itself. 
The only way, then, to triumph is to present the viewer with an equally powerful and opposing image,
and suspend the film in moot. Purple achieves that triumph, albeit within the restricted grammar of a
short film.

Purple | Short Film of the Day

The short film is one of the many episodes of a series called Love Handles by Gorilla Shorts. Each episode looks at a different love story and adopts a unique approach in constructing the narrative. This particular short film is about two kleptomaniacs and how they fall in love while trying to one-up each other in theft. When it comes to treatment, the film does not offer anything fresh and often gives in to corniness. The two actors, however, do full justice to their parts, and an effortless chemistry further adds to it. The film as a product fails to come together and does not go beyond being a regular romance that will not particularly enrich your viewing experience.

Chori Chori Pyaar | Short Film of the Day

Amrita waits for her husband on their anniversary. She's planned a small little surprise for him. She is
inflating balloons, sprinkling red rose petals, putting decoration pieces across the room. Yet, for all of
this infusion of colour, the general vibe is ominous. Instead of being accentuated through
complementing music, these gestures are cast in pin-drop silence. A silence so stark that you’re wary of an impending doom. 
The day turns to evening, then to night. The balloons are deflating, the decorations are falling off, yet
her husband doesn’t arrive. For a brief moment, the narrative gives us momentous, tragic information.
Just when we’re on the verge of believing that as truth, we see a key turn in the door handle.

Happy Anniversary | Lockdown Film Challenge

With its use of short, crisp shots, coupled with an eerie background score, the film does a notable attempt of invoking an atmosphere of thrill and horror. It moves back and forth in time to juxtaposes two parallel narratives of a young couple. The plot soon develops to reveal how a man finds his present reality reflected in a past couple's life that lived in the same house where he happens to be for a few hours. The film shows potential in terms of its structuring and performances and comes across as a strong attempt at horror. While music has an important role to play in escalating tension, it is also the execution of the storyline that allows it to be a complimentary aspect of the film, rather than spiral away into melodrama.

Phera | Short Film Nominee

The film gives a glimpse into a day in the life of a regular couple. As they both go about their regular business during the day, the most unanticipated development occurs, leading to serious consequences. However, now that it has occurred, would they be able to find a way out of it?

Trapped | Lockdown Film Challenge

The film uses an issue as its premise that, despite being a very relevant concern, is only talked about in hushed whispers behind closed doors, and often only in a hyper-sexualised manner. Consequently, it does not achieve the attention it deserves. The story is of a housewife whose unsatisfying sex-life leads her to use a carrot as a dildo. Alone at home all day, her mind first attempts to take shelter in all kinds of fantasy. She finds herself comparing her life with other married couples, and coy attempts to address the same concern with her husband leads to little to no solution. What the plot endeavours is an engagement with sexuality, but falls short of achieving the delicate and careful approach that would have allowed a smoother treatment of the subject matter.

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