The short film is beautifully inspired by Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis in which the protagonist wakes up to find himself transformed into a cockroach. Borrowing the same metaphor, it attempts to show how humans are no less than insects in an arbitrary, murky world of poverty, chronic diseases and the constant struggle to survive. The colour palette of the visuals is of dirty greens, browns and greys, to further invoke a sense of filthiness associated with insects, or humans who are not rendered any more valuable than them in a society where a father and his son fight with the latter's oral cancer. Amidst these hues of dirt and filth, the red scarf of the boy stands out. It perhaps serves to draw the viewer's attention to how he comes to be the only voice of hope in the narrative. However, this voice is soon snuffed out since a bright crimson has no place amidst illness and pain, a folly that will be realised immediately, but not soon enough.

Metamorphosis  | Short Film of the Day

Dry Day is a modern take on frail father-son relationships, and how little gestures can go a long way in mending them. Shashank Arora and Shishir Sharma are both brilliant as the loner young son and the awkward sweet father respectively. This short film will surely leave you with a smile.

Dry Day | Short Film of the Day

The series is about the (mis)adventures of Abhinav and his father. The struggle of the duo to get the other one to agree to their way of life is endearing and authentically written. The well-structured script of the series manages to generate humour as well as encapsulate the dynamics of a father-son pair in a small town effortlessly well.

TSP’s Baap Baap Hota Hai | The Screen Patti

Baap Baap Hota Hai | The Screen Patti

‘Ayak’’s world is constructed with a controlled, and steady hand, taking the viewer into the story gradually, but irrevocably. The sustained pace ensures that even though the dialogue in the film is frugal, you are deeply invested in the fate of the protagonist. Manu has arrived at the Forest of Chithari to perform an age-old ritual that takes place every twenty years. 

The forest is not only the abode of innumerable secrets and unsaid things, but also of forces far beyond Manu’s comprehension. The story that began in ancient Egypt, is about to come to fruition with his arrival for the ritual. Ayak, or the potion that unites one with the gods, is soon presented to him in the most unlikely circumstances. 

As the events unfold, the film puts forth a narrative that is quiet, but stern. It employs no sudden thrills or jump scares to unsettle the viewer, and still ensures that it remains disconcerting throughout. The visuals of the vast expanses enhance it manifold, as do the smooth edit and the screenplay. The seamless weaving of all of these elements allows 'Ayak' to become a beautiful final result that is not simply defined by mystery or thrill, but also by an element of fantasy and something terrible awaiting right around the corner.

Ayak | Short Film of the Year

The narrative, carried forth powerfully by Girish Kulkarni, is about a conversation between a father and his daughter. The walk back from her school is captured most effortlessly in mostly a single take (barring the few cuts towards the end). The chemistry between Kulkarni and Gauri Sudarshan Deshpande is an endearing one as the father attempts to engage his daughter in a conversation. With other concerns on her mind she, on the other hand, is edgy and distanced. The film talks about an important social issue, and does it in a nuanced manner, without spelling anything out. What transpires between the girl and her father regarding the problem is confined to whispers the viewer is not privy to. Further, the film is a beautiful comment on parenting and single fathers who are bringing up their daughters in a world that attempts to restrict the latter at every stage of their life.

Arre Baba | Short Film of the Day

Starring the brilliant Saqib Saleem, Aamad is a poignant little film that is sure to tug at your heartstrings. It is amazing how it touches upon various themes in such a short time - inheritance, loss and frail societal notions of masculinity.

Aamad | Short Film of the Day

‘Valu’ is a film about the human condition that is marked by the constant struggle to survive, more so if you are responsible for another life, as in the case of the protagonist. A farmer grapples with water shortages while trying to somehow make ends meet for his young daughter. Employing this circumstance, and the many tribulations that constitute it, the film offers a sharp look into his life. 

 The dearth of water affecting his crops is man-made, brought about as a result of theft and illegal trade of sand. When he attempts to get his situation addressed by those who are in positions of power, and thus capable of checking it, a truly unexpected development arrives. 

The film portrays all of this for us minus any frills and fanfare and sustains a frugality of dialogue throughout. Consequently, at its conclusion, a comment is offered not by the things that are said, but instead by the thoughts that are left unsaid in their silence.

Valu | Short Film of the Month

Rear View is an easy, free-flowing narrative which might initially make the viewer impatient, but give it just some more time and you’ll be rewarded. Filmmakers have tried time and again to show a conversation between strangers during a car ride in a poignant manner. While some succeed at it, others not so much. This short film definitely falls in the first category for the simple reason that it does not try hard to be anything else than what it is - a conversation between two people, confined by the start and end of a cab ride. While a busy professional is headed to catch a flight for a work trip, his driver soon receives a call to find out that his pregnant wife just went into premature labour. The story is not a new one, even the manner in which it’s told is not unique. Yet, the innocence and the honesty of the narrative ring deep and true with the viewer, and become the greatest strength of the film in the process.

Rear View | Short Film of the Day

The short film is a refreshing take on the age-old dad-in-the-kitchen trope that is often employed in a comical narrative. Chhoti Biryani uses it most effortlessly and manages to tickle your funny bone while maintaining a harmonious, festive cheer throughout. The film also subtly attempts to address the communally charged atmosphere of the country by showing an average, visibly traditional Hindu father-son duo craving non-veg food on the occasion of Chhoti Diwali.

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