Silly Sheep is a poignant engagement with the existential angst of a young boy tied to the desk of a seemingly mundane job. As he goes about his life, rehearsing and performing the same activities over and over again, the futility of this rut leaves him unable to attach any significance to life. Tied in an endless web of civil norms and social etiquettes, the protagonist, skilfully played by Arnav Bhasin, asks the jarring question, "Do I really exist?" There is much that goes on in the short duration of this film - from a dull job to a stolen car to a near death accident - yet the struggle to find any meaning in existence remains unchanged throughout. When you see someone you see every day, maybe in a lift, at a platform or outside a building, do you ignore them or do you lend any relevance to their existence and, in the process, to yours? This is the question this DLP production, written and directed by Pranav Bhasin, leaves you with.

Silly Sheep | Short Film of the Day

The film is essentially a conversation between following your passion and getting stuck in a rut. The story is told devoid of any dialogue and from the same physical space of a room, employing its limited resources as well as the skills of its two-member-cast and crew, to the fullest. When a man starts a new job, his first to be precise, there is the dedication and devotion to use time judiciously and be sincere and devoted to this lifestyle. However, soon a lull follows, resulting in everything becoming chaotic and daunting. Though the film shows want of more control over its color scheme, in this moment, and the realisation that follows it, it manages to communicate its core message to the viewer.

Naukari | Short Film Nominee

A man is on a call with a client, trying to disentangle some last minute complications the latter seemed to have given rise to. The sound of the conversation is coupled with the visuals of a pair of hands preparing an elaborate cup of tea, complete with all the spices. The calls continue, but soon somewhere in between doodles begin to push themselves into the scene, to be soon followed by ignored calls of loved ones, as well as more detailed paintings. The short film builds itself using all of these images one by one. And finally, it leaves the viewer with a question that is most important for the narrative- what do you do when after investing in a lot of effort in something, be it a cuppa or perhaps even a stressful, unsatisfying job, you realise it wasn't ever meant for you?

Not My Cup of Tea | 2020 Film Challenge

At the heart of the film is a message about hope. The story is located in our locked-down world following the Covid-19 pandemic when a man has lost his job. Unable to secure any other job, he finds himself drowning in despair and the overwhelming pressure to simply survive. It is at this juncture when he has a conversation over a phone call with his friend, one that comes to alter the entire course of the night for him. The film is well-intentioned and wants to remind the viewer of the importance of not giving up, irrespective of how bleak things may seem, especially during and after a year like 2020.

Ithu Mudivu Alla | Short Film Nominee

The short film aims to weave a philosophical narrative about the mundane, mediocre realities of life. It starts and ends with a glimpse into the life of his protagonist. Drawing to attention the acitivities of daily of life, it follows him from waking up in the morning to going to work, giving presentations, eating out and eventually falling into his bed at the end of a long day. The narrative invokes the philosophers (Hegel, Marx) and art (Fight Club) that perhaps inspired the filmmakers to make this film in the first place. It aims to be an honest and sincere engagement with the thoughts and ideas of these thinkers and artists and should be viewed and appreciated for the same.

Downturn  | Short Film Nominee

The short film engages with a reality innumerable Indians grapple with on a daily basis. The constant effort to strike a balance between your professional and personal life is the core concern of the film. It is the story of one man trying to be present for his little daughter and wife, while at the same time trying to hold on to a job that pays his EMIs and monthly bills. As his daughter waits for him for hours to take him to a movie, he is unable to leave work on time. This is the tipping point for him and he decides to take an important step to amend this. However, tied by duty, will he be able to truly achieve his heart's desire? Raising the same question, the short film becomes a comment on all those who find themselves confined and limited by their pay check because that probably is the only option they have in the face of all their responsibilities.

Forty Thousand a Month | Short Film Nominee

The video is a short one and emphasises the ideas of hope, possibilities and the vast unexplored potential of the future. It wants to convey the same by taking the audience into a regular day at an office. A man soon gets a call from the HR department. Little does he know what kind of fateful developments await him. However, the question that the story wants to raise is would this be an unfortunate event or one marked by a sense of liberation? It is the latter, also linked with the idea of a silver lining and unexpected opportunities that it wants to leave the viewer with.

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