Khamakha is the story of a bus ride when two unsuspecting strangers chance upon each other and immediately strike a conversation. As the journey progresses, the narrative begins an engagement with the idea of language, first impressions and how the two get tied together. Through the banter of the two protagonists, the audience is introduced to an innate tendency of most of us to form opinions based on our biases, and the supremecy of the English language that we still allow to prevail upon us. As the couple navigates their way around these concerns, the film becomes a subtle comment on class, social structures and how we locate each other within them.

Khamakha | Short Film of the Day

Made intelligently, the narrative is hilarious and endearing in equal measure. The story is of a young boy from Chennai who is extremely passionate about Bollywood. Hence all his efforts are directed in one direction - to move to Mumbai. While everything is taken care of for the achievement of this goal, there remains one major hurdle - his complete lack of grasp on Hindi. As he goes about trying to change the same, the narrative exhibits skilled camerawork and selection of frames, convincing performances and an efficient utilisation of limited resources. Along with being an engaging story and an authentic portrayal of a young boy from Tamil Nadu (barring a slight stereotyping of people from Bihar), the film leaves the viewer with a deeper understanding of the significance of language in people's lives which goes beyond its linguistic structure.

Other Tongue | Short Film of the Day

A very important businessman, Subramanyam, has taken time out of his terribly busy schedule in Singapore to visit his village. When he begins sharing his story, he mentions his childhood Telugu teacher, Ramaiah master, and the plot begins to unfold. At the same time, we are introduced to the said master. He is accompanied by a young woman who shares with him his love for the language. It is in the overlap of the two threads that the film’s message is communicated to the viewer, one about the significance of the language and the need to preserve it for future generations.

Sirijotha | Short Film Nominee

Two men, alcohol and the darkness of the night - three essential components constitute the world of ‘Bangla’. The title of the film is a clear reminder of language which, in turn, echoes the primary driving force of the film. Communication and conversation propel the narrative forward as the characters before us discuss their lives in a state of inebriation. 

There is drinking, banter, cussing, some more drinking, and a quiet, wry acknowledgment of the many tribulations of existence. Though the film stands to gain from a firmer control on its lighting and sound, more so if the visuals are choosing dim-lit frames, there remains an intrinsic sense of poetry within the narrative.

Bangla | Short Film Nominee

The short video presents to you the personification of the Hindi language as a woman who sits dressed in all her finery. She enjoys the ornaments and clothes, feeling an innate sense of pride until voices begin to echo in the background. 

A large portion of Indian society still places the English language on a pedestal, allowing neocolonialism to get the better of us. This often also leads to the rejection of the vernacular language of Hindi, spoken by a sizeable population of the country. The video (which could have perhaps gained from a little more clarity in its visuals), shot within a single location in a room, raises the same issue, presenting the viewer with this specific moment in our cultural space.

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