The film is a beautiful and insightful conversation that a woman has with her baby. The story opens on a day when Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations are in full swing with fireworks and merrymaking in tow. The tone of the narrative leaves the viewer significantly unprepared for what is to come. Solely an interaction of the mother and her baby as she comforts the infant disturbed by the noise of crackers and the celebration downstairs, Vikat continues to increase the intimacy in its approach to the events unfolding on screen. What had begun as a regular celebration of a festival, is about to culminate into a violent act that makes the viewer truly sit up and pay heed. Now that the film has managed to capture your attention, while also demonstrating expert camerawork in the process, it will finally share its true intentions - one about the environment and how it has been degraded and exploited by us in the name of celebration, making its message all the more powerful and hard-hitting.

Vikat | Short Film of the Day

The lived reality of Indian housewives is often constituted by little to no worth of their emotional and physical labour towards the household. The inherent demand of them by society is also to often snuff out any dreams they may have harboured in the face of the will, needs and decisions of their family members, primarily the husband or the patriarch. The short film is an exploration of the same line of thought, taking the viewer into the life of a Marathi housewife ahead of the grand annual celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi. However, the expression of the narrative's concern is not done in an overly-sentimental or hackneyed manner. Instead, it intelligently ties it all together with a dance competition the protagonist wants to participate in, while keeping it all a secret from her husband. In a familial space and marriage where asking her husband for some money requires her to muster all her courage and truly justify and explain all the reasons behind it, a woman choosing to finally accept and embrace an activity that gives her happiness, is indeed an important and much-needed comment to be made. Additionally, there is an engagement with the idea of how women can empower one another, as well as the confidence, strength, peace and above all, liberation, one can find in an activity that they sincerely love.

Ghungru | Short Film Nominee

The ad film carries with it a significantly important message that becomes more and more relevant in contemporary times where the planet wages a tough battle against environmental destruction. The narrative is short and crisp and succeeds in communicating its message in a lucid, comprehensive manner. The comment it offers is about how devotion to religion and festivities is not determined by materialism of any kind, and all that it requires is faith. Secondly, there is further a reminder for the viewer, with especial focus on Ganesh Chaturthi, to not let their devotion lead them to perhaps unknowingly indulge in a practice which pollutes their surroundings. The film is quiet and sincere in sharing its message, and reminds the audience to simply be more mindful of their observation and practices.

Belief | Short Film Nominee

The coronavirus ensured that the world changed for all of us in the most unexpected and unseen ways. From distancing family members from each other, to ruining festivities and celebrations that marked the coming together of loved ones - the lockdown that ensued in the wake of the pandemic led to several unhappy occurrences. However, despite all odds, faith and hope manage to find their way, and the film is an emphasis of the same thought. It introduces the viewer to the story of a little girl who had gone to her grandparents' house for Holi celebrations and has since then been forced to stay there while her parents are in a different location as a result of the national lockdown. And yet, there exists a sense of positivity and celebration amidst all this despair, the characters as well as the story of Anubandh remind the viewer.

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