The documentary film is a zealous endeavour to introduce the viewer to Kerala's fishermen community. It picks several case studies to bring in varied voices to talk about their tribulations, plans and expectations from future generations, relationship with education - their own as well as that of their children, and their ideas of religious harmony. Visually, however, the film stands to gain from closer attention to colour correction. The final product shows potential, presenting the viewer with the cause of its arguments, even though a more defined effect for the same would have allowed the film an added coherence. Overall, Vellam remains a well-intentioned product, exhibiting vision and should be appreciated thus.

Vellam | Short Film Nominee

The thematic preoccupation of the narrative is something small and mundane, and yet, for the characters involved, it is an issue of extreme importance. That perhaps is how life is constituted too, by small moments that may seem trivial in the larger scheme of things, but it is precisely these moments that come to define and comprise our lived reality. The narrative locates itself in a rural pocket of the country where, one day, some catfish is captured for food by a man and shared with those around him. However, the activity is not as simple as it sounds, and soon becomes a topic of great discussion as well as derision by the rest of the community. The film offers a convincing and authentic glimpse into the daily affairs of the village, and the several social equations within which they come to take form. The storytelling exhibits potential, even though the cinematography could have gained from a little more stability in the visuals. Overall, however, the film remains a notable attempt at sharing its story and intentions with the audience.

The Catfish | Short Film Nominee

The viewer would find it hard to be able to tell that the film was a documentary if it hadn’t already specified so.
This is because the narrative seems a lot more put together than documentation. The fishermen are casting
their nets, and performing the ritual they usually would to catch fish, but the visuals turns an activity, a
sight, so lively into something gloomy. The best part about watching the sun, about being close to an
ocean, are its colours, scents, and sounds. The violin score is surely great, but the documentary robs the
viewer of an experience of nature.

The Shore Benefactor | Short Film Nominee

The short narrative is marked by supernatural elements that completely change the course of a dawn for its characters. A group of fishermen discuss the financial travails that followed the Covid-19 lockdown, the festival of Holi and their faltering business amidst it all. At the same time, two of them choose to venture out and cast their nets in the darkness of the breaking dawn, to avoid the strict control of the authorities during the day as a result of the lockdown. However, as they step out in the hope of securing themselves some business, what sinister entities lurk in their path?

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