‘Reduva’ or radio is a story marked by immense visual drama that very adroitly portrays all the thematic preoccupations of the film. Ramphal cherishes a gift from long ago, presented to him on the night of his marriage - a radio. His constant companion now in old age, the gadget remains deeply embedded in his life. 

Alongside this endearing equation, however, is the alcoholism of his unemployed son who only brings trouble home in the form of domestic abuse, drunken brawls, and injuries that become a financial strain on the already struggling family. 

The film ropes it all in with seamless visuals that are sustained with control, ensuring that every emotion is presented to the viewer lucidly. While there may be a sense of hope in the manner Ramphal’s grandson comes to his aid and reveals an unexpected, precocious moment of tenderness, the circumstance with his son continues to deteriorate. The story that is thus presented to the viewer is meaningful and involving, allowing the film to share all its intentions with ease.

Reduva | Short Film of the Month

When a skilled voiceover is coupled with sophisticated, seamless visuals, there is little that can go wrong. The short film is a paradigmatic example of the balance that such a combination brings to the table. Essentially, the story of the film is no more than a romance with a season, but one which is not simply constituted by weather. It is made up of nostalgia, memory, a fondness for the past, and the experience all of it eventually leads to. The narrative is smart with its length, keeping it just right to convey the message in a heartwarming, endearing manner, without either communicating or holding back too much. The plot is a weaving together of lovely metaphors and imagery that further serve the purpose of enhancing its easy, but powerful narration, to allow the viewer a glimpse into perhaps their own childhood memories of a summer spent chasing all sorts of reveries and dreams.

Mere Sheher Ki Garmiyan | Short Film of the Day

Along the banks of the holy Ganga, the historical city of Varanasi acts as the backdrop for the film, Taam. Life of three characters belonging to separate generations, during a trying time of deconstruction of the authentic, cultural city is depicted through the short narrative. 

The oldest in the family, a Brahmin pujari who spent a lifetime practising his religion on the ghats of the river, is now being forced to leave the very alleyways he was born into, the ancestral, mystical walls which hold fond memories of his deceased wife. Amidst the constant movement of the several forces tugging at each other, his son tries to straddle the political and the social aspects of the ensuing developments. 

The protagonist is pained at the loss of the city, but is accepting of the resulting compensation- one which is deemed necessary for the survival of their family. Lastly, the innocent boy, still learning the trade, ends up meeting the cruel realities of the world he exhibits. Allowing all of these elements to play themselves out against the several warring factions of society, the film provides insight into life in Varanasi. The many undercurrents of totalitarianism, caste, religion and abuse are further allowed portrayal within the narrative, enabling it to finally tie them together as a cohesive whole.

Taam | Short Film of the Day

An old man is in bed, about to fall asleep when he is visited by his grandson and a night, perhaps mundane for the characters involved, but eventful for the viewer, soon follows. As the younger man, with a swollen mouth, bleeding gums and a noticeably bad toothache, tries to prepare his grandfather for bed, several memories are invoked by the latter. It is in this manner that the film exhibits surprising and unexpected moments of poignancy within its folds. The narrative ropes in history, the partition of India, the turmoils of a life already lived, the closure which may or may have not been achieved and simply a suggestion of the passage of time that ties it all together in a cohesive, comprehensive whole. The film is endearing, engaging and amusing in equal measure, and leaves the viewer with a sense of a complete product at its conclusion.

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