This short film, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and directed by Nandita Das, works as the perfect prelude to the full-length feature film Manto soon to make an appearance on the silver screen. Nawazuddin is as convincing as Manto in the film as he has been in all of his prior roles. <br><br>The film is a deep and insightful commentary on society which attempts to hide its vulgarities and inherent contradictions by attacking the artist who simply holds a mirror to it. It's not the art which is ugly, but the reflection of the critic who attacks the former with misguided rage. If nothing at all, In Defence of Freedom, handled extremely elegantly by Das, simply succeeds in compelling the viewer to start a conversation with the self and its location in society.

In Defence Of Freedom | Short Film of the Day

The short film gets full points for a sophisticated script and authentic narration. Muftnosh is a fun narrative that follows Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto's struggles to protect his cigarettes from freeloaders. Visually, the film is a dual romance with an era long gone and forgotten, as well as the elegance of Urdu. It pays its tributes to those who have successfully managed to quit smoking, while also reminding smokers of the horrors of sharing their cigarettes.

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