The opening music offers a sweet vibe. A friendly looking, young man, confesses his love to the camera.
He is rehearsing a proposal for his childhood best friend. Reading from his
notes, and breaking into smiles for the camera, he is rehearsing his sincerity. The music soon becomes delightful, conveying his
confidence that the girl he’s in love with, his best friend, is going to say ‘yes’! 
But the film is sub-titled 'a tangled tale' for a reason. The screenplay deftly picks up words, image and
memory of one (the boy), and connects them with the other (the girl), like a thread, tying one end with
the other. However, the more the episodes collate, the more knots the thread gets entangled in.
Relationships are complex. Matters of the heart are not easy. 
But the film tries to tread these arduous paths softly, delicately and with hope; just as the path to love is
supposed to be. Take a leap of faith, a sweet surprise awaits you!

Thread | Short Film of the Day

The film aims to weave a poignant narrative about a couple which was deeply in love once, but now struggles with distance, indifference and apathy in their relationship. It does a notable job of bringing out this contrast by using a black and white palette juxtaposed against the colourful one of the happier times. It further attempts an engagement with the notions of fidelity and whether cheating can be reduced to the category of only a sexual act. The story is successful in conveying what it had set out to simply because it does not try to be anything it's not. It is simple and honest in the manner in which it shares its story. This is further supplemented by a convincing chemistry of its characters. The story and its execution progresses at an organic pace, and before you know it, colours have trickled again into a monochrome palette.

Tonight's Special | Short Film of the Day

Rohit nurses the broken heart of a jilted lover. It is also a situation where the hurt has turned into immense, passionate hate. After discovering the truth about Shweta’s infidelity in their marriage, Rohit decides to kill her. He does not stop still but also decides to document the entire process on video. 

In portraying all of these developments, the film exhibits notable stylistic choices, coupled with fitting music. The narrative also presents an exploration of voyeurism and heartbreak, and how they get tied with technology. 

The components are weaved together by efficient and thoughtful visuals. It would have been interesting to watch the story unfold with perhaps a multi-lingual approach; keeping it predominantly English felt slightly restrictive. Having said that, it should also be mentioned that the protagonist is brought to life with unwavering conviction and skill, and the performance bolsters the film most significantly.

The Vlogger | Short Film Nominee

The poetry in broken things becomes an idea intrinsic to the film. A young man, heartbroken in love, seeks solace and comfort for his bruised heart in poetry. In a misguided bid to prove his sincerity to the former beloved, he finds himself making his way to a poet’s house. 
In the exchange that develops between the two, the narrative presents its core ideas about the release that tears carry and a sense of self-awareness without which perhaps all our relationships are doomed to fail. Alongside this, the protagonist has another exchange, one with a flower seller who introduces him to an emotional reality that is far from what he might have interacted with so far. 
The film is marked by a uniqueness of storytelling that is visible in the screenplay. Notwithstanding a little evidence of youth in its voice, the film shines bright in its individuality, alongside stylistic choices of music and visual palettes to present all of this to the viewer.

Tears of Roses | Spotlight

‘Neene’ is a seamless music video that brings to life a story of friendship, love, longing, and eventually, heartbreak. All of these emotions are portrayed in an effortless manner by the protagonist Dhanu. 

In love with his neighbor and childhood best friend Aditi for over a decade, he is finally mustering the courage to tell her the truth. As we await Dhanu's confession of love, we are further introduced to the equation shared between the two. It is marked by joy, laughter, ease and affection. All of this is presented to the viewer by notable visuals, tied with equally complementary vocals. However, would Dhanu’s hopes and intentions materialize as planned? The question remains intrinsic to the narrative, and is eventually answered at its conclusion.

Neene | Short Film Nominee

Grishma and Rishi are meeting after over half a decade. Like any two people meeting after a long separation, the characters before us also have a lot to exchange. However, underlying it all is a perpetual current of bitterness, regret and resentment, on the one hand, and of wisdom, understanding and clarity, on the other. There is further an earnest attempt to talk about loss, grief, and the ways in which it has influenced the two lives. The end result attempts poignancy, and exhibits sincerity. The storytelling would have gained more if the project was longer, and not condensed to the quick-pace that defines it, but that is a wrinkle that can be ironed out in future projects.

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