At the heart of ‘Kaaval’ rests a crucial message about the conservation of wildlife which humans have exploited endlessly for their material gains. The manner of communicating the same to the viewer is defined by thrill, suspense, mystery and even a suggestion of the fantastical. 

Visuals of lush forests soon take an overwhelming turn as they are coupled with a sense of the unknown. A forest ranger, Sabari is on a quest to dispel the mystery of sounds of gunshot he had heard during the day, followed by finding the head of a dead animal floating in a stream. His path soon crosses with the unlikely Satpathy who presents to him an account of a ranger before him who went missing in the jungle, never to be found again, taking him deeper into the many secrets that lurk in this unexplored space. 
 
Matters soon come to a head when Sabari is eventually faced with a formidable foe. As he fights for his escape and survival, the narrative further ropes in action and violence, and at the end of it all, ties them together to present the final narrative as a balanced whole, along with an emphasis on its pressing, educational message about the protection of wildlife.

Kaaval - Under The Watchful Eyes | Short Film Nominee

The first half of the film majorly relies on the action unfolding before you, steering clear of dialogue, to paint its world for the viewer. A man is at the heart of mysterious woods where strange creatures, all dressed in white, forbode imminent peril. As he tries to figure out this conundrum, another reality develops, one suggesting a limbo-esque region between life and death, a space that would alter his fate forever. 

The film employs the vast outdoors judiciously to share its story, evidencing potential in terms of storytelling. It further leaves the door open for more similar creative installments. As for the protagonist whose life now hangs in balance, a terrible development awaits, one from which there is no looking away.

Sheemi: The Dead Awaken | Short Film Nominee

A goat herder, Gopi, is one day visited by a strange man in the forest. The man, Kesba, leaves him with a goat to take care of. A little before this we are also introduced to Gopi as someone battling terrifying nightmares, something that also portends what the rest of the plot has to offer. The two soon come to overlap in a manner that would alter the protagonist's fate irrevocably. A world of outdoors, nature and the unknown that lurks within it is constructed for the viewer in the film. The final result shows dedication in terms of storytelling and the primary performance, even if not without a few misses within the sound department. The background score, however, is chosen with care to bring this reality to life.

Pretaranya | Short Film Nominee

Lush green forests beckon three men as they make their way to a camping spot. Vast outdoors are presented to the viewer, enabling them to appreciate the beauty of nature. However, the visuals of littering are also interspersed within the plot to remind one of their responsibility towards their surroundings. While the narrative portrays all of this, it adds a supernatural entity to the plot as well. The three men, Zeeshan, Ishfaq and Mudasir, make their way into the heart of the forest, unaware of the malicious being that rests within it. As the fate of the characters becomes more and more shrouded in uncertainty, Wan slowly unfolds, eventually leading the viewer to the only possible conclusion of this story of horror.

Wan | Short Film Nominee

The film opens with a small hiking lantern being placed on uneven, muddy ground with two voices discussing the ideal place for setting up their camp. A mutual decision of exploring further and later coming back for the lantern is made. A couple of hours before, in a different part of the forest, a wildlife enthusiast, out on a hike alone, requests a lift from an incoming SUV driver. 
In the unsettling and mysterious depths of the forest, a set of unexplained developments take place. It is the image of rope knots, a loud thud and a pair of wet slippers that are invoked within the narrative, aiming to disconcert the viewer further. However, when the events have all played themselves out, what will truly be the fate of the characters?

Unexpected | Short Film Nominee

A woman picks up an old, archaic, strange-looking coin on her way back home through the forest. As
soon as she does this, the sound effects of the film indicate and forebode what’s going to happen next. 
With a mix of jump scares, sound effects, and a eerie visual vibe, the film manages to pack a horror, but
it doesn’t transcend the standard template. The plot could have perhaps been allowed some space to stretch its limbs by way of polishing its sound and lighting.

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