It is the end of a seemingly long day for an auto driver who now sits and eats his dinner outside his house. His wife is deep in sleep in the darkness inside, thereby forcing him to eat his meal in the light of his stationary auto. 
In this shadowy realm of exhaustion, and constant daily struggle, our protagonist encounters a brainwave, one that convinces him that robbing the affluent house of a patron from earlier in the night, is indeed the answer to all his woes and unfulfilled dreams. 
The subsequent plot weaves a humorous, involving ride that is especially notable in its seamlessness. 

While the circumstance in itself is the disconcerting reality of the vast majority of the have-nots in the country, the film forever maintains its lighthearted tonality. The writing, performance, and the technical aspects of lighting and visuals, bolster the endeavor further, at the same time, ensuring that all its punches land, as well as it remains entertaining and deeply involving for the viewer throughout. Though thoughts that approach you in the darkness of the night might make complete sense in the moment, the same might not hold true in daylight. Whether our protagonist is capable of making this distinction, between dreams and nightmares, thus becomes the question central to the narrative, the answer to which awaits at its conclusion.

Jaagran  | Short Film of the Month

The film introduces us to an elderly couple where both partners wish for an end to this final chapter of their lives, as well as to the isolation and loneliness that define it. 

At the heart of this desire is the very pragmatic concern of one of them meeting their end before the other, and therefore leaving the other all alone without a companion. The two lead a comfortable life, and are affectionate towards each other, but find it beyond their might to ward off the many obstacles that are ushered in by old age. 


As they seek a final solution to their many problems, the film also endeavors a comment on euthanasia. Despite the thematic concerns, the narrative is never weighed down with sentimentalism, owing to its notable writing. On the contrary, it ropes in lightheartedness, humor, warmth-inducing-chemistry of its actors, and, lastly, an endearing story of a loving couple.

Golden Jubilee | Short Film of the Month

The short film is a refreshing take on the age-old dad-in-the-kitchen trope that is often employed in a comical narrative. Chhoti Biryani uses it most effortlessly and manages to tickle your funny bone while maintaining a harmonious, festive cheer throughout. The film also subtly attempts to address the communally charged atmosphere of the country by showing an average, visibly traditional Hindu father-son duo craving non-veg food on the occasion of Chhoti Diwali.

Chhoti Biryani | Short Film of the Day

The world of ‘Lost and Found’ is one of calm, quiet shots, marked by their complete absence of dialogue, and supplemented instead by soulful songs. The story carries a similar quiet gravity that says more in its silence than any verbal exchanges could have conveyed. 

At its opening, a stranger posts a notice, a plea to help find a missing man. Soon we are introduced to the man in question himself. He comes across as an eccentric character who is fixated on the moles on his body, along with measurements of his height. 

When the narrative reveals the reasoning behind it all, the writing and screenplay of the film present a victorious flourish, tying the various components together into a cohesive whole about what it truly means to belong or, on the contrary, be completely alone by oneself.

Lost and Found | Short Film Nominee

The film builds its world at a sustained pace. It starts off with humor and eccentricity as a man gradually tries to make sense of his new humble dwelling, to say the least. In trying to align it with his ideas of auspicious domestic placement, he bathes in the kitchen and cooks in the washroom. 
The protagonist is more than content with this. However, the circumstance is hardly inviting for his hapless, pregnant wife, Bhavna. As the conflict between the couple regarding the situation mounts, a terrible development occurs from which there is no looking away. 
What the film briefly lacks in terms of maturity of tonality, it comfortably compensates with its strong visual grammar. The notable storytelling also eventually presents a crucial metaphor, one that takes the film home in a complete, balanced manner after having lucidly communicated all that it had set out to with its premise.

Sookha Patta  | Short Film of the Month

‘Salwate’ (wrinkles/creases) is an endearing, entertaining film about one morning in the life of the protagonist, Jeetesh. He is a disciplined, cheerful man who shares a loving, playful relationship with his mother. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/ZBdAYxsh.jpg"/> 

On the day the film opens, he is about to head out for an important job interview. However, when he begins to get ready and iron his clothes for the same, he realizes that the iron is broken, and that no ironing shop would be open this early in the day to complete the task. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/poce03Lh.jpg"/> 

As Jeetesh moves from one failed attempt to another, to make it in time for the interview, the narrative comes into its own. The performances and writing, both complement each other, and eventually take the film home in a balanced manner. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/wundpu3h.jpg"/> The viewer cannot help, but be deeply invested in the fate of the protagonist who takes upon all challenges in his life, big or small, with a winning smile.

Salwate | Short Film of the Month

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 protagonist's day starts off at the very wrong foot. From a quarrel with his wife regarding a broken window to annoyance at the carpenter who refuses to show up for work he has already been paid for, the tribulations have no end. All of the drama unfolds within a lusciously green corner tucked away in a rural, peaceful part of Kerala where there is little available by means of entertainment beyond prying into your neighbor's life. 

Despite the aforementioned obstacles, there is still little more in store for the protagonist who is yet to battle a punctured tire, but most important of all, an unexpected call from his father-in-law. After catching a humongous murrel, a fish known for its delicious meat, he is busy with the preparations of an elaborate lunch when the fateful call occurs. 

 By employing all of these events, further marked by their quiet humor at the haplessness of the protagonist, the narrative moves from one development to another effortlessly. All along, the viewer is kept engrossed and entertained at his expense, eventually allowing the film to come together as a coherent, cohesive whole.

Bral | Short Film Nominee

A mother who is incapable of staying out of her son's life, her domestic help with a Jeeves-esque energy and a mamma's boy amidst it all who is very clearly blind to all that is unfolding around him - 'Aamras' offers all of this and some more. Alka Amin as the mother brings to life a chemistry with each character around her that is unmissable, a character of its own, and in many ways, the spine that not only holds the whole film together, but also keeps it running on its feet. 

As the younger generation conjures one unexpected, and deeply inconvenient for the mother, development after another - an unwanted girlfriend, a vegan diet, pronounced sexuality - the film very much keeps you involved and entertained. Along with the clash of generations, and all that it entails in terms of politics and relationships, the film pronounces its overarching metaphor, aamras which is sometimes sweet, sometimes sour - much like life itself. As for the characters before us, what would all their various antics lead them to - sweetness or something which might be a little too tough to swallow?

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