Getting rapping to Mumbai streets is this 25-year-old artist Naved Shaikh (aka Naezy). Trying to turn away from a life of delinquency, young Naved found himself turning to poetry. Soon his father gifted him an iPad, and since then there has been no turning back. <br><br> Posited between his religious identity, the expectations of his parents and his love for rapping in the vernacular, Naved attempts to use hip hop to fight regressive ideologies and bring change in society. The short film narrates the struggles of an aspiring artist in the most honest and skilful manner. It's visual language is in direct relation with the music created by the protagonist on his iPad. While Bombay 70, titled thus after the part of Mumbai Naved comes from, introduces the viewer to the rapper, it also manages to incorporate his music and art with its narration and storytelling, making it a well-rounded, wholesome product.

Bombay 70 | Short Film of the Day

In cinema sometimes less is more and this rings even more true for animation. Most blockbuster animation films market themselves as being hyper-realistic, but often only provide lacklustre results. Animation works at its best with a clear stylistic vision. Miyakazi's Spirited Away looks completely different from Up. Both are great films in their own right and that is the flexibility of the medium. Geetanjali Rao has done the same with her hand painted animation film.<br>

<h2>'Bombay Rose' has wonderfully used Indian pulp magazine art, comics and vintage movie posters for reference points for Mumbai, painting the landscapes and figures with blurred lines while keeping the characters' features sharp and well defined. Shadows and depths are painted religiously, frame by frame. Some sequences even find inspiration in folk art and Mughal art of miniatures and side portraits. </h2>

The stylistic choices give the film a look that is groundbreaking in Indian animation. It oozes the flavour of Mumbai in a manner that an amalgamation of different cultures becomes a towering presence in the narrative. The soundtrack features songs from Goan music, groovy and erratic, juxtaposed against a Hindi heartland ballad invoking Maa Rewa(Narmada) on a modern rendition. <br/><br/>


The film revolves around three characters, Shellie D'Souza, Kamala and Salim who are tied together by, among other things, a rose. The brilliantly chosen characters allow an exploration of different parts of Mumbai.
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Miss D'Souza clings to a glorious past. She reminisces a retro Bollywood film she starred in with the love of her life. Her memories are haunted by the days far gone. Piece by piece, she pawns her invaluable relics that no one really buys. Her narrative progresses to reveal that even her house is a symbol of the city's past - a garden where fresh flowers grow only to reach a graveyard.
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These flowers find Salim, a migrant with a tragic past, and then Kamala. Both are outsiders who come to the city, the land of opportunity, seeking escape from a terrible life. Similar to countless other films, they find themselves stuck in the city's ugly underbelly. This interaction between the old and the new isn't merely black and white. As dance bars are replaced by high-end clubs where dancers continue to get trafficked, vices of the past persevere for an existence in the present.
<h2>All three characters come from different religions and social strata. Their stories coalesce into a larger picture of a city's consciousness - one that is dying and rejuvenating at the same time. </h2>

Miss D'Souza is a doomed romantic who walks through the streets as we see them returning to how they looked in previous decades. Salim and Kamala often find respite from their mundane daily lives through fantasy and escapism. Salim seeks solace in movies and imagining himself in legends of heroes; Kamala fantasises about being a rich bride in the Mughal era. 

<h2>As these fantasies exist in the world of crime and moral degeneration, one as real as the other, Gitanjali Rao fluently moves from fantasy to reality, often blurring the line between the two and splashing paint all over the screen. </h2>

The screenplay is tight with the visuals threaded together so fluently as if they are a part of one gigantic canvas, where colours dictate the cuts, not a camera. The narrative moves freely from the story to fantasies or extended sequences with roses to dance numbers.
The real achievement of the film, however, is the homage it is able to pay to Indian cinema, to Mumbai and to the diverse people who inhabit it. <br><br>

<b><i>Written by <span class="text-gradient">Nimish K Sharma</span></i></b>


Bombay Rose | Anurag Kashyap, Gitanjali Rao

There is a reason Netflix has become one of the most prominent and accomplished content creators in India. After making a deep mark for itself in the global visual space, it's pretty much on its way to achieve the same in the country. <br><br> Don't believe us? Here's evidence in the form of this ad film starring Vijay Varma playing a pickpocket in the most convincing manner. The YouTube title of the video suggests that it's going to be about the product Netflix has to offer, a cheap subscription, yet, the viewer is left guessing throughout as to how this marketing goal will be achieved. It's a single-character narrative with beautifully shot visuals and an equally strong voiceover by Varma. The sophisticated cinematography, the powerful performance and the wonderful writing of the film are all tied together most seamlessly with visual tools referencing to Netflix's most popular shows, both in India and internationally. This ad film, thus, more than simply being a commercial selling a product, is also a visual treat for fans of not just the content it refers to, but also of storytelling and visual arts in general. 

Pappu Pakitmaar | Short Film of the Day

The short film is a lovely, quiet delineation of the struggle of two men in Mumbai. It draws a wonderful and intelligent parallel between the stories of Rahi and Gurpreet who both moved to the city of dreams in pursuit of success in their respective careers. <br><br> The intelligence of the narrative becomes most pronounced when it addresses the notions and deeply-set structures of class in the Indian society while talking about these characters. Despite the difference in their societal location, both Rahi and Gurpreet have similar battles to fight and demons to overcome that threaten to devour their hopes and aspirations. The film is a well-rounded product with elegant camerawork, strong performances and effortlessly smooth story-telling. If all of this wasn't sufficient to make it succeed, it further manages to make a deeply moving point about professional obstacles, class divisions and chasing your dreams, without making its propositions preachy, didactic or blatant.

Gunta | Short Film of the Day

This Rajkumar Rao-starrer will leave you gasping for breath by the end of it. Remind yourself to not feel choked by the futility of human conflict, often arising out of empty causes we lead ourselves to believe in. This brilliant short-film further shows that, if deluded, people can behave in the most absurd, cruel manner. Bombay Mirror leaves the audience with a powerful message, that some things ARE very obviously black and white and should be openly condemned. Watch this Shlok Sharma piece of art to find out what they are.

Bombay Mirror | Short Film of the Day

First thing's first, let's begin by appreciating the title of this short film. Next- can we please talk about the beautiful cinematography, authentic frames and the most accurate comic timing of the film?  This Enter DLP production, written and directed by Pranav Bhasin, also has a surprise up its sleeve regarding its genre for the unsuspecting viewer. <br><br> With a convincing performance by Arnav Bhasin and Sarita Patankar, The Wolf of Chawl Street will introduce you to the Mumbai streets, but with a twist. It  will definitely make you fall in love with the art of making short films, as well as the process of consuming them.

The Wolf of Chawl Street | Short Film of the Day

The short film takes us into the life of Snehal,a young boy trying to survive in a world that expects him to adjust at every step. From his name to his clothes to his house - everything becomes a matter of adjustment. <br><br> As the protagonist moves from one aspect of his life to another, will he find an escape from this web of constant compromises? Perhaps the answer lies in a plate of khichdi when he asked for biryani instead. Why We Love Adjusting is beautifully shot, written and structured with endearing performances and an effervescent voice-over. It's exactly the kind of wholesome content you need on a rainy day.

Why We Love Adjusting | Short Film of the Day

In a world of Tindering and social media romances, let The Affair be a refreshing reminder of old school love stories, sneaking and teasing behind propriety and tradition. The short film is a lovely take on the idea of love in a city like Mumbai where the limited space is shared by many. Amidst the hustle and bustle of a fast paced life, one couple struggles to find the time and opportunity to share a few moments of privacy.

The Affair | Short Film of the Day

The short film carries a very relevant social message for the viewer who is willing to stick till the end. Fortunately, that won't be a problem in this Naseeruddin Shah-led narrative. Rogan Josh is the story of a meal time when a family sits down to enjoy a birthday dinner with their friends. <br><br> Throughout, there are suggestions of a deeper, darker subtext even for the most inattentive viewer. However, as the plot thickens, these cues are going to become subtle and bewildering. Watch closely for you wouldn't want to miss the climax and closure this short film has in store for you.

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