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

Kheer is a short film about two generations, a child and her grandfather, and the way they look at love and relationships. It opens with an irritated man, played most convincingly by Anupam Kher, quarrelling with a woman. The intimacy of the quarrel suggests that the two are married. The narrative then introduces two more characters, a girl and a boy, Kher's grandchildren. The surprise of these two characters is used most intelligently to reveal that she's indeed not his wife. The short film earns brownie points for the manner in which it navigates around the concepts of companionship and age. It also attempts to normalise the idea that age and the desire to be with someone are two unrelated things. Therefore they should not be judged using this non-existent link as an index.

Kheer | Short Film of the Day

It's the little moments that make up life as well as a good short film. Katran, a glimpse into these seemingly unimportant moments, is the story of an elderly couple which has decided to part ways after three decades of marriage. The chemistry between Piyush Mishra and Alka Amin beautifully captures the conflict and makes it the strongest aspect of the narrative. The protagonists are supported most efficiently by the other characters in the film which make brief, but not any less significant appearances. As the story progresses, it becomes clear to the viewer that separation indeed is the most peaceful and ideal solution for the couple. However is that the path they will also eventually choose to move ahead?

Katran | Piyush Mishra | Short Film of the Day

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

One day a grandfather decides to write a letter to his newly born grandson. He condenses all his experiences and lessons learnt from life in a letter which this beautiful short film shares with the viewer. In a world where there is no end to headlines about hatred, pain and loss, Khat reinstills hope most poignantly. Maybe giving life a second chance is not too bad an idea. Maybe we were put here to make it a more wonderful place, even if slightly so. This short film leaves you with all of this more. It reminds you why it's important to never give up hope, to always remember to fall in love, and above all, to never stop dreaming and trying.

Khat | Short Film of the Day

Imagine a couple in love that has run away from their home and family. They find themselves in the hills because the man, who grew up there, wants to show his beloved all his childhood haunts. If your first instinct was to imagine a young couple dancing around trees, then this short film is for you. It attempts to break the stereotype of love and relationships belonging only to a fixed age group by taking us into the lives of its protagonists, inhabitants of an old age home. As they traverse their memories of love, loss and childhood rivalries, there is perhaps one last battle to be won. Lillette Dubey is breathtaking in the film, supported by Mohan Agashe in the most endearing manner. Purana Pyaar also deserves praise for its writing and storytelling.

#PuranaPyaar | Short Film of the Day

A wonderful short film, Doodho Nahao Pooto Phalo is made of the simplest, but deeply touching moments. The story, straight at first glance, unfolds to reveal the complexities of attachment, fidelity and hurt. At the heart of the film by MensXP is the love story of Nikhil and Radhika, portrayed in the most beautiful manner by the actors. Adding an extra flavour to it is a grumpy grandmother, an endearing domestic help and an annoying younger sibling. Amidst all of this is a hassled mother, eager to get her daughter to like the boy and vice versa. As the situation unravels despite her best efforts, the viewer is left smiling at the innocent manner of storytelling of DNPP.

Doodho Nahao Pooto Phalo | Short Film of the Day

The world is barely beginning to get back on its feet following the Covid-19 pandemic when the film locates itself. As the activity of everyday existence begins again, and people step out of the confines of their homes, a life of inactivity and senility is conjured before us. The viewer is taken into a household constituted by an old woman, her son, a domestic help and her toddler. 

The realm of the film is painted with an intrinsic quietness that continues to define it throughout. The dialogue remains frugal, the action contained, and yet, the space is weaved together in a seamless, impactful manner. 

The comment at the heart of the narrative is lucid and unmissable, one about the cage that is put in place by the limitations of old age, finding a metaphorical representation in the house the woman inhabits, while all along trying to make a phone call to someone we never see on screen. Unable to keep track of time, of day and night, she continues the child-like existence of absolute dependency on others, different only in one way - even the toddler in the house is eventually allowed to step out, albeit in the arms of his mother. The woman, on the other hand, simply continues to watch the world pass by from a solitary window in a wall.

Window in a Cage | Short Film Nominee

The short film is beautiful in terms of the pacing, the tone and the narrative it weaves using its visuals. Marked by seamlessness and sophistication, the poetry takes the viewer into a world of shadows which conceal some magical beings and all that they carry within themselves. The writing is notable and employs words smartly and poignantly to convey its intentions. The film is specifically relevant in contemporary times for it carries an important social message, urging the viewer to not forget to light up the lives of those we may have, knowingly or unknowingly, forced into oblivion and forgetfulness, especially during the pandemic. The communication is lucid, coherent, skilled, and manages to convey it all in a moving manner.

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