Gustaakh is a story of rebellion, a lone ranger raising his voice against the mighty system. The narrative in itself is not unique, but the manner this music video adopts to develop it indeed is. The video is a comment on several issues plaguing contemporary society - from infestation of technology in our lives to death of individual thought, from a regime trying to control every aspect of its people's lives, to a complete destruction of the environment in the name of progress and the mute acceptance of an entire people refusing to see beyond their shackles. Set against the powerful vocals of The Local Train, it's also a falling away from the kind of visuals and much of the music they have worked on so far. It marks a transition from mellow, soft rock, to a harder, more punk form of the genre. The video seems to be the first of its kind in several ways in the Indian music circuit, with a slight hark back to another video, one by Imagine Dragons which too draws upon the colour red and the image of a teddy bear trying to fight tyranny.

Gustaakh | Short Film of the Day

‘Valu’ is a film about the human condition that is marked by the constant struggle to survive, more so if you are responsible for another life, as in the case of the protagonist. A farmer grapples with water shortages while trying to somehow make ends meet for his young daughter. Employing this circumstance, and the many tribulations that constitute it, the film offers a sharp look into his life. 

 The dearth of water affecting his crops is man-made, brought about as a result of theft and illegal trade of sand. When he attempts to get his situation addressed by those who are in positions of power, and thus capable of checking it, a truly unexpected development arrives. 

The film portrays all of this for us minus any frills and fanfare and sustains a frugality of dialogue throughout. Consequently, at its conclusion, a comment is offered not by the things that are said, but instead by the thoughts that are left unsaid in their silence.

Valu | Short Film of the Month

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

It’s difficult to find a word in the English language which describes the occupation of the person we send our washed
clothes to get ironed. The colloquial term is ‘press-wala/wali’. Salbatein is her story. 
The film is a monologue that begins with her detailing the specifics of her life and work. What
she says in the beginning feels a bit unnatural to the viewer, considering the insistence on the realist-genre by the film. But once one eases into the film, her words become a scathing critique of the
iron-fisted patriarchal customs of Haryana. In a way then, the film takes the form of the practice of
ironing where, as the creases are smoothened out, the cloth, and the thoughts begin to take shape. The film is marked by a strong voiceover and performance of its only actor, along with notable writing. From the local, to the global, Salbatein outlines the stifling controls through which patriarchy has
strategised to keep women away from a life of freedom and progress.

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