Amidst all the dark realities that the coronavirus pandemic has ushered in, there is also an undeniable sense of unity and hope that mankind as a single community has found within each other. Ghar uses the same thought as its premise to portray the story of a household which harbours more than a single family within itself.

Ghar | Lockdown Film Challenge

Prarabdh, which literally translates to something already in motion or destined, is a brave attempt at creating a product of the thriller genre. However, despite a potentially strong story, the film fails to come into its own. While screenwriting too exhibits strength, the performances and the gradual progression of the narrative remain lacklustre and saggy. It also has some problematic aspects like constantly referring to the domestic help as the "kaam waali bai". The film misses out on the much-needed tightness and takes too long to build it's story, losing the interest of the viewer somewhere along the way. Having said that, conjuring and sustaining suspense and thrill is indeed a tough job, and the film earns brownie points simply for trying to engage with it.

Prarabdh | Short Film Nominee

The entire narrative is marked a cohesive story that consists of a beginning, middle and end, allowing it to come together as a whole. Savita, a domestic help, dearly loves the daughter of the household she works for. From taking care of Piya's daily routine to hearing her playful chatter every day, Savita does it all with patience and affection, further portraying the intimacy of their bond. Consequently, for Piya's birthday, Savita wants to get her own little present. The obstacles in her path are several, sometimes even as extreme as domestic abuse, but she is undaunted. In the process, the narrative raises several points about class divide, the unquestioned acceptance of people about their location in society, even if it means making peace with an inferior status, and the location of women amidst it all where they are deprived of their due further, rendering them even more powerless.

Chudiyan | Short Film Nominee

Made within fifty hours, the short narrative is a fun and entertaining glimpse into the misadventures of a domestic help and his employer. When he arrives, he is categorically told by the man of the house to stay away from a specific room which has a reverse sign on the door. One night, tired of the mosquitoes in his corner of the house, he forces his way into the room, and the most absurd set of events begin to develop. 

The final result brings in moments of humor, all along not taking itself too seriously. Through the caricaturesque portrayal of the help, it aims to generate laughter for the viewer (even though some lines of portrayal of people of a specific class are a little too clearly defined), the overall result remains lighthearted to watch.

Reverse | Short Film Nominee

The narrative of the film is about looking at the national lockdown from the point of view of domestic helps. As a group of women sit down to discuss their woes and experience of being quarantined, the story attempts humour at the expense of their misadventures. Of course there is also some good news to be shared amidst all the cheer, suggests Lock Down Ki Kahani at its conclusion.

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links