The short film wants to discuss the paranoia that is capable of worsening our contemporary pandemic-ridden reality and make it more difficult for everyone. This, in turn, can alienate one further from the much-needed hope and positivity to overcome the gloom that has cast its pall over the world in the form of the coronavirus. The plot of the film engages with these concerns by means of a theatre production which is underway. As the actors rehearse lines from Dharamvir Bharati's Andha Yug, a philosophical concern forms the core argument of the narrative - one about the immediate reality that one can choose to bring to life depending on their worldview. A key actor, after contracting the virus, has taken time off rehearsals to complete his quarantine. However, when he still does not turn up after making a complete recovery, things begin to go downhill for the production. While taking all necessary precautions is of utmost importance during this pandemic, there is also a comment to be made about learning to move ahead while keeping up with the times, suggests the film. Irrespective of the side of the argument the viewer would find themselves on, the film makes its position clear, adopting a theatrical and poetic approach to share the same intentions.

Navyug | 2020 Film Challenge

The predominant action in 'Ear Damage' unfolds within a week, taking us into the fragile mental state of the protagonist, Rohan, in the brief span. The film chooses a non-linear narrative, along with a black and white palette to bring its reality to life. Soon, a world of extreme paranoia, obsession and fixation, nightmares and jitters is conjured for the viewer. 

For Rohan, it started with an article he read about a man's ear getting infested with cockroaches. This is followed by him seeing the insects everywhere, in wakefulness and in nightmares. They consume his reality, as he gradually ends up taking a terribly dark path of self-harm and destruction. The cockroaches could be a metaphor for the various struggles of a young man at a crucial crossroads of life. Or they can simply be a projection of a mind fraught with anxieties and trauma. 

The film leaves that open to the viewer's interpretation. It further exhibits potential in weaving a narrative, and employing different tools, be it the palette or the background score of Western Classical music, to achieve the same. Despite showing the need of a firmer hold on its sound, 'Ear Damage' concludes as what could perhaps be a seminal first step on a long road of storytelling.

Ear Damage | Short Film Nominee

The short film becomes an engagement with the chaotic spirals the human mind can find itself in if it's left in isolation. The coronavirus pandemic has ensured that the protagonist of the story is quarantined at home for fourteen days. Amidst the apathy and indifference of his friends, and the emotional isolation along with a physical one, he finds himself struggling to make sense of this new lived reality. The narrative endeavours to be a comment on the paranoia, nightmares and maybe even hallucinations that can come to constitute this experience. As he counts the days until the quarantine would be over, what disconcerting thoughts and developments await him?

14th Day | Short Film Nominee

The short video wants to tell a story of fear and paranoia during the Covid-19 pandemic. A woman is alone at her house, while her husband is stuck in a different city. The constant flow of news about the pandemic starts playing with her head, convincing her that she too has some of the symptoms of the coronavirus. At its conclusion, the story has a comic release that succeeds all of this stress.

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