Against the hinterland of 2014 rural India, when it is still untouched by technology and the internet, and is instead marked by child marriages and walls covered with social messaging about covered toilets, the film allows its narrative to develop. One morning, three school boys (who choose to refer to their eleventh grade school as 'college', a notably authentic touch to the story), find a smartphone. As a scuffle ensues regarding the ownership of the phone, the desire for internet has also begun to stretch its limbs in their imagination. While the story is still establishing its premise, a new girl comes into the village and is soon the inhabitant of the only house with a wireless internet connection in the area. The film, marked by its lovely visuals and camerawork, allows the WiFi at her house to be the common pin that holds the entire plot together. It is also the pivot on which the film rotates, bringing in several emotions - of friendship, young love, loyalty, mischief and an eventual acceptance. It is fresh and contemporary of the right kind in its premise, sincere in its attempt to localise the story and successful in tying all of these elements together in an organic, cohesive narrative.

WiFi | Short Film of the Day

The short film is a calm engagement with a sense of self, and the consequent identity that comes to be associated with it. It chooses a sombre background to match the mood and takes the viewer into the life of its protagonist. His attempts to truly understand himself vis-a-vis his relationship with the internet becomes the predominant part of the plot. Struggling to still make sense of relationships, be it with family and friends, he sometimes seeks solitude, sometimes the company of a friend, and sometimes, simply to lose himself as a tiny speck of a bigger picture. The film exhibits potential, and a script and idea that can be interacted with in a deeper manner in the future projects of the team. Pursuit of Escapes serves only as a premise of an idea, demanding a more adept analysis of its thematic concerns.

Pursuit of Escapes | Short Film Nominee

Uncle Aunty attempts to give the viewer a glimpse into the life of an old couple one afternoon. It adopts a comical tone and a black and white palette to convey the same. Humour can often ensconce itself in the most mundane daily activities, as the film endeavours to explore through a virtual chat between the woman and her friend, while her husband struggles with the cold immediately after a bath. The story the narrative adopts to tell is a unique one, but it falls short of the mark when it comes to execution.

Uncle Aunty | Short Film Nominee

The film aims to be a hilarious take on a situation several across the country would be familiar with - working from home. The narrative gives a glimpse into the antics of a group of colleagues making it all come together, despite all odds, and most importantly, trying to track down a missing fellow-professional.

Where Is Kumar?  | Lockdown Film Challenge

In a world that continues to spend the better part of its free time on social media, the very title of the film makes its intentions clear. It desires to be a representation of an existence where everyone hides their true self behind a mask. This masked identity gets amplified further in the virtual space. Consequently, the world is left colourless and devoid of sincerity, suggests the film. All of this is communicated to the viewer by means of the protagonist's struggle to connect with those around him. However, would he find it in him to unsubscribe and unfollow these toxic behavioural patterns and finally find meaningful connections?

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