The short film attempts a poetic exploration of dissent, subversion and marginalisation. Through the story of a college student who finds himself befriending an old librarian, Autumn Leaf introduces the viewer to the fight of minorities in a space which allows little space for differing opinions. Albeit in need of some polishing and refinement, it employs some interesting camera angles to enable the narrative to touch upon several aspects of the same issue. The writing is wonderfully done, and is translated on screen expertly by Prakash Belawadi. Lastly, it leaves the audience with a sense of hope that though things may seem bleak, sometimes a spark is all that's needed to start an inferno.

Autumn Leaf | Short Film of the Day

Given the contemporary political context, in India specifically, and the world over generally, conversation around dissent is gaining more and more prominence. The short film raises the same concern about the ability to speak out against wrongs being done in society, while forces more powerful than the wronged individual, try their best to use their sway to silence them. Employing the example of Delhi riots that made for extremely disturbing headlines of brutal violence earlier in 2020, the film shares the story of a journalist who has chosen the side of truth, even in the face of all kinds of threats and the jeopardy it puts her in. The dilemma, which forms the backbone of this narrative presented forth by the single-member-crew of the film, is about whether to safeguard one's own well-being or to risk it all for the sake of the greater good, and telling those stories to the world, which despite and because of the truth they carry, have the most lasting and adverse consequences.

The Article | 2020 Film Challenge

From the premise itself, the film wants to make several important comments about the idea of identity, nationalism and politics in a country that is battling a hypersensitive atmosphere. It brings in the cruel and violent treatment of Kashmiris by some members of perhaps a fringe or extremist group on a college campus. They can be assumed to be students or youth leaders backed by political parties or both - the film does not clarify these details. While the intention of the narrative is to further dialogue on the topic of dissent, it could have perhaps gained from a more organic pace. This, in turn, would have allowed it to benefit from a little more coherence in the development of events, and elevate it higher than where it already stands.

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