'Pravasi.jpeg' presents an overlap of two disparate elements - a man robbed of even the basic opportunity to reach home in time during the pandemic, and a young woman who is located within a space of privilege that remains unachievable for the man. 

While the former has walked a long distance to complete his journey and reach home, the latter, a photographer has come seeking to capture some frames for her camera. As the two worlds collide, with their own limited understanding of the other, the narrative is formed. 

There is further the attempt to rope in symbolism and a flight from the reality at hand to invoke a realm where an individual finds himself reduced to a prop of sorts, unable to actively participate in a narrative building he is now at the heart of. It would be interesting to see more engagement with similar thematic concerns by the team, albeit with tighter control on storytelling and execution of the plot.

Pravaasi.jpeg | Short Film Nominee

The short film bases itself on real life events and the media frenzy that surrounded actor Rhea Chakraborty in the wake of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death in 2020. Calling its characters Priya and Prashant, it weaves the story of a death that takes place under mysterious circumstances. There are suggestions of substance abuse, infidelity and perhaps lies entering the equation, without truly compartmentalizing characters as black or white. The film comes across as well-meaning, portraying the blurring of truth and the ordeal of a girl who has lost her partner. However, the conclusion offers a development that does not entirely fulfil art’s responsibility of upholding a mirror to society, especially when it is modeled so closely on an actual person’s life, and instead chooses a far darker route for itself.

Priya - The Unsolved Mystery | Short Film Nominee

As the name can spell out, the film is a comment upon the contagious sickness that has pervaded the
broadcast media today. It wants to be a comment on that particular strain of journalism which is losing its meaning with every passing day. The same is becoming evident in the lack of examination of several issues of pressing concern, those that include bigotry, communal disharmony and an environment of anti-intellectualism. The film traces the episode of a
news editor, Amit Chaudary, a character marked by his awareness of his caste privilege, who interviews Ratan
Rangeela, a ‘viral’ social media “star”. The interview turns part-comedy, part-satire, as every
inflammatory provocation instigated by the reporter is flipped by the (in)famous man. The man starts
cross-questioning the reporter instead, revealing how removed he is from the
reality outside of his insulated, privileged chambers. The film also debunks the myth formulated by
corporate media about the degrading public taste which demands sensational news.

Media Virus | Short Film Nominee

The film exhibits a critical sense of urgency about the state of affairs in the country presently: the
crisis in our democracy. From the alarming level of crime, to unemployment, to fake news, to even
environmental concerns. One can see the frustration of the filmmaker about the helplessness of our
circumstances which are represented by the views of the lead character, the boss of a media
organisation. We are told repeatedly by his colleagues that he neglects his health and has been missing
his medicines. Soon we learn the importance of that insertion in the narrative. 
The film is borne out of an emotional reaction to the state of affairs in the country, but it confines itself
to the projection of only that emotion. An exploration of the other aspects of the story would have allowed it an added layer.

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