Starring the brilliant Saqib Saleem, Aamad is a poignant little film that is sure to tug at your heartstrings. It is amazing how it touches upon various themes in such a short time - inheritance, loss and frail societal notions of masculinity.

Aamad | Short Film of the Day

In an interesting subversion of order, the short film presents to us the experience of an upper caste boy who is constantly bullied and ridiculed by members of a lower caste. The latter, complete with drums and fanfare, leave no stone unturned in tormenting their victim, ensuring to drive immense laughter and malicious entertainment out of it. 

The weaving of these events is done in a competent manner, ensuring that the story communicates all its intentions with force and impact. The performances and the chemistry of actors, the well-developed equation of the protagonist and the antagonist, all aid the said intentions. 

Without explicitly saying so, the film offers a crucial comment on the oppressive caste structures that operate within society, while also tying it with a sense of male machismo that can acquire overwhelming proportions of its own. The final result, thus, becomes a relevant story, one that should surely be interacted and engaged with.

Cowman  | Short Film of the Month

Though the film situates itself in the horror genre, it is perhaps better suited for the horror-comedy category (at least for
the first half of the film). This makes it more interesting for it is one of the lesser explored ones. The film
also takes a turn towards the eccentric because it is the husband, the man of the house, who starts
seeing the ghost, not the wife. In fact, he is ridiculed by her on account of his fragile masculinity that leaves him
with no option, but to shower with an open door, while she lounges, fiddling on her mobile phone.
It is the wife who consoles her husband who, we are told, has nightmares after watching a horror film. 
There are jump scares, and loops, and attempts at leaving the viewer with ambiguity, but the film
doesn’t fully realise that potential.

Pei Kadhai | Short Film Nominee

With its engagement with gender, primarily the notions of masculinity, the film has a message for its viewer which is educational in nature. It draws attention to how fixed gender roles can be harmful for not just women, but men as well. The narrative ties together a piece-to-camera with stories and brief portrayals of different situations. The film is well-intentioned and tries to be a reminder as well as advice for people to inculcate a sense of kindness, balance in their emotions and relationships.

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