Tanuja Chandra's documentary
‘Aunty Sudha, Aunty Radha’, follows her real aunts who live
in a rural part of North India along with a retinue of their domestic helpers.

<h2>The two nonagenarians are the centre of a peculiar, little, self-sustained community in Mathura. All of their household helpers have been there for decades. They work with reverence, making serving the two women seem almost like a devotional ritual. </h2> In return, for their
sustenance, the vast farmlands in the property are equally divided to provide them surplus crop.
Aunty Radha’s son, who devised the arrangement and bought the property, frequents them
once a week. Rest of the time the house is run at the whims of Sudha, the younger, much more
dominant sibling. 

It is a unique set-up, one that most people cannot hope to afford, but that is not the point of this
film. It is about what truly matters in life. The relationship between the two women is explored
simultaneously in depth along with the everyday occurrences of their life and
times. It is a symbiotic dependence of two souls that have been together for ages, and cannot
fathom to be apart. In each other, they have found a reason to make the rest of their life worth
so much more. Perhaps it is each others’ company that has prolonged their lives, and kept them healthy. 


<h2>Chandra’s care for the subject is translated well into the film that is profound without ever trying. The
film’s grammar feels as delicate as blown glass. It treats its characters with affectionate care, love and a sense of security that pervades throughout. </h2>

Life is alright in this little community
and there is nothing else, but all-pervasive positivity that has made its home there. The experience of being part
of a loving, synchronised community is visible in the household helpers. The cook who knows she
will never quite satisfy Aunty Sudha’s demands, the experienced gardener who is happy to tend
to flowers and laugh at the women's quips, another helper who is much closer to the old women

and understands the responsibility that comes with it; the sense of spirituality of daily life is found
in every member of the house.

 
Through characters that are old, and preparing for the ultimate eventuality, the film affirms life
itself in its most rudimentary form. Happiness is not only to be found in success, or grand events that
surround one, but merely the conscious act of living for oneself, and being there for the people
around you is sufficient. This film is an experience that places one’s faith in living, and in the ordinary, mundane experiences of life that remain grossly underrated.

 
Written by Nimish K Sharma

Aunty Sudha Aunty Radha | Shorted Screening | Tanuja Chandra

The little moments that constitute life are weaved together most seamlessly in this anthology of short films. From the loneliness of old age, and a deep desire to reconnect with someone, to the little joys of simply eating an ice cream - the thematic concerns are far and wide across the spectrum, and yet never out of synchronisation with one another. Each story that the film offers is more powerful than the other, and is bound to stay with the viewer long after they are done watching it. The subtle, but potent commentary the narrative presents on issues of gender, misogyny are loud and clear, without falling in the trap of sentimentalism. Additionally, the film's insight on old age and mental health is noteworthy. The performances and portrayal of all the characters enhance the stories further, ensuring that often only the eyes are sufficient to express and communicate the intended sentiment, even before the film makes it explicit for you. All of these elements together allow Jump Cuts to work on several levels, making its success well-rounded and complete in itself.

Jump Cuts | Short Film of the Month

The film is a quiet rumination on aging, the passage of time, and standing still as you watch the world change before your eyes and continue with its inexorable march. All of this is explored by the lament of a protagonist played most adroitly and skilfully by Naseeruddin Shah, who observes it all from his window. 

After having lived a life of hard work, one which even kept him from spending time with his son, his circumstance has slowed down now, leaving him only with this window and his thoughts for companionship. As he eschews modern technology, smartphones, and virtual contact, instead longing for more meaningful and intimate human interaction, the film comes into being. 

The narrative is constructed gingerly, bolstered by beautiful visuals, and supplementary colors that further invoke warmth and an intrinsic poignancy. The protagonist, and in turn, the film, however, is not marked by bitterness. Instead, only a lament on separation, on things changing too swiftly in their unalterable course, defines it. 

 There is an acceptance of this condition, but not devoid of sadness. A man’s relationship with his house, a space that stands for a life lived fully, complete with its losses and grief, as well as nostalgia, memory, and even strength, thus becomes the overarching force in the film. The narrative takes the form of a story of the old being replaced by the new, echoing the idea that while a life might end, the world continues to move forth, each individual going about their day as always.

Khidki | Short Film Nominee

‘Nadigar Pandi’ is a film that is sure to stay with you for a long time. It is honest and hard-hitting. The poignancy it brings to life on screen is effortless, and succeeds in creating an impactful effect on the audience. 

The eponymous protagonist is a struggling actor who has been trying his luck, and skill in the field for over three decades, as he is quick to remind and repeat throughout the course of the narrative. There is a suggestion of bitterness and resentment, but there is also integrity and self-respect. Despite all the obstacles, which include severe monetary tribulation and the ensuing practical problems, there is no regret or self-doubt about his decision to be an actor. 

The film does a seamless, elegant job of tying all of these emotions together, as well as presenting a protagonist that is powerful and unforgettable. The viewer remains engaged all along in the fate of Nadigar Pandi, who we meet on a very crucial day of his life, and cannot help, but find themselves deeply invested in what eventually follows.

Nadigar Pandi | Short Film Nominee

The film builds its world gradually at a sustained pace. It starts off with humor and eccentricity as a man 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 where 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 Nominee

Asmad, or "me", is an exploration of the idea of the self, and the presence or the complete absence of its power and influence in our lives. The narrative achieves this by being a visual treat which is accompanied by an equally skilled background score. The location it adopts for itself is an idyllic space of a small Indian town where life is calm, slow and simple. The trauma, guilt and sadness of its characters, primarily the protagonist who is dealing with the aftermath of his mother's death, comes to predominate the story. This is further in tandem with his efforts to understand the origin of his thoughts as well as to engage with the ideas of free will and predetermination. The film reaches its conclusion in a lovely, most natural manner, throughout maintaining its pace as well as the atmosphere it has conjured for the viewer. The story is of a young boy who blames himself for an occurrence that was much beyond his control. His journey to this realisation is engrossing and satisfying, finally leaving the audience with a sense of complete closure.

Asmad | Short Film Nominee

The short film packs an endearing, wholesome story of hope and what it truly means to seek something throughout the entirety of your life. Wicket is further notable in the manner in which it employs family members as characters to mark the passage of time for the viewer and delineate a wonderful conversation about straddling dreams and practicalities of life. The protagonist of the film is an ardent admirer of cricket, and dreams of becoming a cricketer himself one day. However, growing up watching the successes of the legends in the field, will he find himself walking a path similar to their's or will he choose one which takes him in a completely different direction? The plot of the film is a sincere attempt to invoke a reality where the two might one day collide.

Wicket | Short Film of the Day

Along the banks of the holy Ganga, the historical city of Varanasi acts as the backdrop for the film, Taam. Life of three characters belonging to separate generations, during a trying time of deconstruction of the authentic, cultural city is depicted through the short narrative. 

The oldest in the family, a Brahmin pujari who spent a lifetime practising his religion on the ghats of the river, is now being forced to leave the very alleyways he was born into, the ancestral, mystical walls which hold fond memories of his deceased wife. Amidst the constant movement of the several forces tugging at each other, his son tries to straddle the political and the social aspects of the ensuing developments. 

The protagonist is pained at the loss of the city, but is accepting of the resulting compensation- one which is deemed necessary for the survival of their family. Lastly, the innocent boy, still learning the trade, ends up meeting the cruel realities of the world he exhibits. Allowing all of these elements to play themselves out against the several warring factions of society, the film provides insight into life in Varanasi. The many undercurrents of totalitarianism, caste, religion and abuse are further allowed portrayal within the narrative, enabling it to finally tie them together as a cohesive whole.

Taam | Short Film of the Day

The short film exhibits some very beautiful and creatively executed visual transitions to tell the story of its protagonist, Savio, an assassin. As he prepares to head out for another day of work, planning his next murder, something unexpected awaits him. The visuals are constituted with several symbols and imagery linked to life, death and a search for the meaning of existence. They are plotted against a philosophical exploration of Dalai Lama's The Tibetan Book of the Dead. The book also comes to serve as the inspiration for much of the treatment of the story that plays out before the viewer. However, in a bid to experiment with its unpredictable and unique cinematography, the plot ends up becoming dense and vague. The film would have had more to gain if the narrative was a little less impenetrable.

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