The latest offering by TVF’s Qtiyapa, ‘Padh Le Basanti’ is a humourous take on the dismal conditions of contemporary schools and the Indian education system. It draws attention to the teachers' deliberate efforts to not teach their students properly in the classroom, forcing them to come to them for tuitions. Set in a high school, the film uses Rang De Basanti as its inspiration in a comical way to highlight the intent of the teachers. The faculty leaves no option for the students, but to either cheat or spend money on their tuition fee. Matters come to a head when the topper of the school, Ajay is failed in his exams for being the sole force of resistance against tuition classes. His friends, led by DJ, then embark on a revolution with the help of their new teacher Miss Chu. Will this group of school students be able to provide the spark needed for the inferno of revolution?

Padh Le Basanti | School Qtiyapa TVF | Short Film of the Day

The short film opens with the tone of an autobiographical documentary, but soon reveals its true nature, that of a mockumentary. Once that has been ascertained by the viewer, they find themselves delving deeper and deeper into the world of the protagonist who uses the name of his online persona, Krodhraj. 

Rejected in love and battling heartbreak, he sets on a path of redefining love and its many complexities. With bizarre ideas, well-intended but marked by their absurdity, he moves from one aspect to another, sharing them all with the audience. 

The end product of the film is an expression of the desire to experiment with the various aspects of weaving a narrative - be it music, visual style, aesthetics or the overall feel. It should definitely be honed further to present more fine-tuned results to the audience in the future.

One For Love, Krodhraj! | Short Film Nominee

Made as a parody of one of the most iconic Bollywood films, Rang De Basanti, this video positions itself as a trailer of the sequel of the same. The story is of a young protagonist who wants to make a film on Tipu Sultan. However, given the hyper-political environment in the country, he is advised to do otherwise. As he onsets on the journey of making an independent, impactful film, auditions are held, work is begun and the realisation to not repeat the mistakes of his predecessors in the previous film is achieved. There is an attempt to invoke humour at the expense of the conflicted ideas of nationalism and the state of things which are a direct echo of contemporary Indian reality. The film is an ambitious satire, despite its limited resources, and is an honest endeavour deserving appreciation for trying to use humour to accentuate the importance of effecting change.

RDB 2: Tipu's Revenge | Short Film Nominee

Our mainstream news channels ensure that we get everything from them, but news. The short video is a humorous take on the endless shouting matches that are conducted on them in the name of debates, without ever giving a concrete answer to the discussion at hand. While the host of the show monopolizes the conversation, the guests are merely present as a formality. The narrative parodies it all in a lighthearted manner, also giving the viewer a glimpse into ground reporting. The endeavor is especially notable as a solo project, further revealing the dedication to share its concept and story.

News Parody | Short Film Nominee

The short narrative aspires to garb the form of a mockumentary to bring to life the story of a person who went missing. The protagonist was an average person who worked out regularly, followed the institutions of domesticity, and spent most of his time reading books. However, once the lockdown hits in the wake of the outspread of the Conspirovirus, this habit of reading takes him down some very dark paths, drowning him in all kinds of conspiracy theories. It is at his expense, and the various antics he indulges in, that the plot attempts to invoke humor. At the same time, it presents to us all the ridiculous decisions that the protagonist makes until he reaches a point of no return.

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links