The documentary introduces us to a powerful subject, Nihad Panju, who not only holds an intimidating world record but also carries within him a story impossible to look away from. After a serious illness as a baby left him battling partial paralysis, Nihad’s life was defined by long years of isolation, hard work, the many sacrifices and compromises that his ever-supportive family made, alongside discipline, perseverance, and the vehement refusal to quit. 

Overcoming the toughest odds, Nihad now holds the world record of being the fastest runner with hemiplegia to complete a half marathon, in addition to leading a deeply fulfilling and meaningful life. The visual and narratorial progression of the film does a notable job of capturing all of these emotions. In the end, the story that the viewer is presented with is one of hope and the indomitable nature of the human spirit, allowing the film to succeed in the communication of all its intentions with lucidity and impact.

Nihad Panju | Short Film of the Day

The metaphor of sound and its related processes - hearing, communicating, listening, comprehending and accepting - all of them together constitute the central metaphor of the narrative. The absence of these processes, the act of being able to hear each other, presents to the viewer the story of Vijay and his family. His father lives with a disability, thereby leaving the onus of fending for the family on his wife and the eldest son. 

Vijay’s younger brother, Varun, has withdrawn into his own little world, away from the many tribulations that his mother and sibling deal with on a daily basis. Vijay too leads a double life his family has no idea about. The narrative weaves all these elements together seamlessly, offering a poignant story of a broken household where each character inhabits their own realm. The performances further bolster this reality, as does the writing. 
 
Vijay’s vulnerabilities, hopes, and dreams, as well as his mother’s quiet suffering, alongside his father’s rage at an existence that has confined him to a life of immobility, are all shared in a skilled manner. The film loosens a little towards the conclusion, especially after presenting a potentially powerful climax, but that’s a wrinkle that can be overlooked in favor of everything else the plot offers.

Vakh Vakh Sansaar  | Short Film of the Month

The strongest aspect of the film is the humane element it manages to capture and utilise not only for the benefit of a pleasurable viewing experience of the audience, but more importantly, also for serving a social purpose. It thus succeeds at doing its bit to work towards normalising identities of those living with a disability, enhanced further by a skilled performance of the protagonist. The story is of selfie attempts of a young girl, aided by her family. A perfectly normal experience, it is also portrayed as one without giving in to sentimentalism or maudlin developments at the expense of the quality of the plot and its execution. Finally, Anokhee concludes with a reminder and a request to endeavour to help someone in need with perhaps a little effort on the part of the viewer.

Anokhee | Short Film of the Day

Working in the film industry as a costume designer, the protagonist, Aarti finds herself in a sore, difficult position as the caretaker of both, a paralysed husband, and an incompetent father. The father barely helps Aarti with the daily chores and is reluctant to contribute to Arvind’s care, convinced that his recovery is beyond the realm of possibility. 
Meanwhile, Aarti toils throughout the day, balancing both professional and personal duties. In a later conversation, the father reveals his disapproval of Aarti's choice to still support her husband, and therefore denying herself the opportunity to live in comfort as a homemaker. Where there is a disconnect between the duo regarding true independence and love for cinema and embroidery, a safe space of understanding and shared interest lies with the husband for the protagonist. Through the progression of all of these events, the film weaves an endearing story of unconditional support and a determined struggle.

Kasuti | Short Film Nominee

‘Love in Kalimpong’ is a mellow story of love found in an unexpected place during an even more unexpected encounter. Its pacing is consistently calm and sustained all along. The narrative introduces us to Rishi first who is visiting Kalimpong with his fellow band members for a performance. 

As they explore the region, he runs into Iris, a talented, mysterious musician who draws him deeper and deeper into her world. What follows next is a story defined by anger, emotions, song and music, and a neat tying together of all of these elements. 

The film loses a few points when it comes to the seamlessness of its sound department but remains marked by earnestness throughout, along with an unmissable, sincere portrayal of Iris by Rajeswari.

Love in Kalimpong | Short Film Nominee

'Wheels' is a story about grief and how it ensconces itself in the heart of a woman. The journey to this moment stems from a tragic loss, the loss of control over one’s body, followed by the struggle to accept this reality. First comes the absolute rejection of it, only to eventually be followed by a slow and steady acceptance. The trajectory that the narrative thus follows forms the body of the film. 

Dia used to be a dancer, a musician, a talented woman with friends and a lover. The inability to use her legs has now confined her to a wheelchair. Despite the attempts of her loved ones to reach out, she chooses to isolate herself, unable to come to terms with the turn life has taken. 

The narrative offers an earnest engagement with the premise, as well as the ideas and thematic concerns that it gives rise to. The end result, in the process, comes to exhibit sincerity and a deep embedded desire to portray all of these intentions.

Wheels | Short Film Nominee

The film is a notable story about the cacophony and chaos of human existence. Though it appears simple and sweet at first, an important comment rests within the plot, one about a significant negative aspect of the human condition. 

The protagonist lives with a hearing disability, until one day when he stumbles across a hearing aid by the roadside. Experiencing the auditory wonders of the world for the first time, his glee is uncontainable, as is also portrayed by the actor's ear-to-ear smile. However, if only the world had only sunshine and cheer to offer. Soon the joy changes into overwhelming noise which the protagonist had not anticipated. 
The visuals support this development and shift with competency, as the narrative continues to march forward, leading to a crucial realization for the protagonist. Consequently, the many components come together to present to you a complete story that lucidly portrays all of its ideas for the audience.

Nirvana | Short Film Nominee

The short film introduces us to Mihir who finds his life uprooted with a relocation to Delhi due to his father's job. Despite the support and love of understanding parents, he feels isolated and lonely. Attempts to continue with his usual activities, listening to podcasts or playing music, all fail to lift his swiftly dwindling spirits. However, one day, an unexpected thing occurs during a walk, and soon a sense of hope is ushered into his life once again. 

 As Mihir's path crosses with Kanika’s, a friendship blossoms. This, in turn, leads to a story that engages with how a Platonic friendship, and the companionship found in shared silence are sometimes more than enough to provide a much-needed shore of comfort and peace. 
 The storytelling remains sincere throughout, constructed and weaved with heart and devotion. Despite a little rawness in the overall progression of events, the end result remains dedicated and consistently true in the communication of all its intentions.

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