An unsuspecting auto driver in a corner of Mumbai one day stumbles across a bag containing an exorbitant amount of money and valuables. One phone call to his wife, Arti, reveals from her accent that she belongs to a vastly different part of the country, Uttar Pradesh. As the two squabble over individual differences, and mull over different options to use the money to their advantage, the many investments and businesses that can be bolstered by it, or whether to return it, a parallel story is developing. 


We are then presented with a pair of corrupt, but harmless, cops, along with the same nexus of UP and Maharashtra in their origins. The two continue to indulge in playful squabbling, and soon find their path overlapping with the perplexed couple who, unbeknownst to them, struggles to make up their mind about the bag. 

The film weaves an entertaining, humorous narrative, held together by its performances, writing and narratorial progression. At the heart of it lies an endearing, uplifting message about the kindness and generosity of human nature, which allows the end result to be a perfect watch on a rainy day, or any time when you simply need your belief restored in humanity.

Don’t Touch Me | Short Film of the Day

The film packs all the punches of a quintessential drama - there is romance, heartbreak, friendship, comedic moments, and the protagonist's unwavering persistence of following his dream of becoming a filmmaker. It is in this pursuit that the plot perhaps blurs the line between art and real life for the viewer, simply on the basis of the universal and relatable nature of the premise. It won't be erroneous to have several viewers seeing themselves reflected in the struggles of the protagonist as he endeavours to go against all obstacles that include nepotism, financial might of his peers and counterparts, and even the mischief of those who revel in his failures while donning the garb of well-wishers. Written & Directed By succeeds in its devotion and dedication to storytelling, to allow its narrative to unfold for its audience in the manner it does. It puts together a logical progression of events, involving, entertaining and surprising the audience in equal measure with its turn of events. The camerawork is notable, further supplemented by familiar faces from the realms of cinema and the web space. The film, however, could have benefited from an overall finesse that would have allowed it to be more than what it already is - a feel-good, engaging and well-rounded product.

Written & Directed By | Short Film Nominee

The film does a seamless job of roping in an entire spectrum of emotions to share its story. From drama to action and thrill, from despair and hopelessness to a sense of uplifting warmth, hope and friendship, the endeavor is to paint all of these together. 

When the film opens, two men, Sachi and Abhi, are on their way to an important place or appointment. Before their destination is revealed, a call is made to a third character, and the narrative swiftly flashes back to a time when both of them were barely making ends meet. 

 In a moment of crisis, that also forms the predominant body of the plot, Sachi and Abhi almost left behind their lives in Bangalore for good, and went back to their village. While portraying all of this for the viewer, there is also the attempt to experiment with music and stylistic choices. The end result, though not without a few errant shots and the need for a little more tautness in the narrative, remains entertaining and involving all along.

Streets of Bengaluru | Short Film Nominee

A crucial cricket match is being played between Gully Players and Ranji Capitals. The latter seems to be the more confident and capable team of the two, ensuring that they leave no stone unturned in reminding their rivals of the same. While RC boasts of a line up of more polished players, GP is short of one player in the team right at the start of the match itself. The narrative attempts to present to you a game of high stakes, marked by all kinds of ups and downs. Above all, however, it presents to you a story of hope, upliftment and resilience in the time of adversity. Even though the narrative could have been tauter, it pulls itself together by its conclusion, communicating its message of never giving up very clearly to the audience.

Gully Tendulkar | Short Film Nominee

The scene is of a cafe when the story opens where different sets of people are all engrossed in their own respective business. While a trio struggles to come up with an original song, the cafe owner and one of his employees continue their banter. Amidst it all arrives a busy lawyer, looking for his regular cup of tea and a samosa. However, confusion unfolds when the last samosa is found to be already claimed by a woman who sits right behind him. 

The film opens at a lighthearted note, marked by humor and sweet silliness. However, it soon takes a dramatic, sentimental turn which involves the threat of familial loss and tragedy for a woman. It is in tying of these varying emotions together that the story is completed and presented to the viewer.

Ek Samosa Do Chai | Short Film Nominee

It is an ordinary scene at a bus stop. Various passengers are waiting for the vehicle. There are school going
children in uniform gawking at others, college students taking selfies, grown-ups reading the newspaper,
while others watch videos on their phone. The film marks the International day of Routine and celebrates
the simple joys of living, the everyday pleasures, the epic in the mundane. The same is achieved by tying together a bunch of different images and characters which all come to overlap at the same place - a bus stop.

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