The main body and drama of Dusk comes to last between the few hours of late afternoon and twilight. Marked by the sound of azaan for Asr and Maghrib, two out of the five Muslim prayer times in a day, the plot takes its time coming into its own. However, this in no way implies a heavy narrative that cannot hold the viewer’s interest. On the contrary, after a powerful opening, achieved intelligently by simply using sounds against the unrelated visuals of a pimp smoking a cigarette or languidly occupying himself on his phone as one of his clients busies himself with a prostitute, the film makes it clear that its story is already fully-formed. It engrosses the viewer deeply and does so in its simple, quiet manner devoid completely of any ostentation or obtrusive tools. The storytelling is quiet, but strong in the comment it wants to make. It is nothing, but simply about a few hours one evening in the life of a young woman who may not have everything going right for her, to say the least. Yet she has managed to secure a precarious, and perhaps brief, calm surrender and peace for herself.

Dusk | Short Film of the Day

The film chooses a pimp as its protagonist and provides a unique exploration of the character's lived reality. It does a skillful job of straddling images of domesticity, and a world of prostitution without giving into flippancies or inelegance, a trap a filmmaker might fall into while dealing with a similar subject matter. The narrative further ties in drama with an unexpected and effortless comic element. A man who is engaged with the underbelly of prostitution, also has another existence that involves a loving, devoted wife. The performances are definitely the strongest aspect of the film, supplemented by impeccable chemistry between the two primary actors. Further, the writing endeavours to invoke ideas of guilt and the moral compunctions the protagonist struggles with. The first half of the film is concerned more with introducing us to the characters and their relationships. The second half is marked by the swiftness of its events as things come into their own very quickly, whereas it would have helped to have a more organic pace for the narrative. The first half sets up a high goal for itself, primarily owing to an intelligent premise, but will it be able to achieve it entirely?

Inner City | Short Film of the Day

Long drives on empty roads, accompanied by loud, upbeat music and the occasional deafening noise of blaring truck horns, is what constitutes a regular night on a highway. The wide, lonely expressway greets its travellers with delicious food of roaside dhabbas and a handful of interesting stories to remember. 

Similar is the case for an ageing, overworked lorry driver who gives a lift to a young, chatty sex worker one night. In the first half of their drive, she tries to turn him into a patron by working information of available rooms and her pricing into the conversation. The driver simply replies with stern looks and silence. When they both eventually get off at a dhabba, the young girl moves on to find other potential customers. She states the rate to them, gulping down the food offered to her, but soon enough things turn ugly. 

As the rest of the night develops, we are introduced to a brutal reality of a world where it is often the familial, domestic space itself which exposes women and young girls to abuse in all its grotesque forms. This assertion is further proven true as the girl before us completes an entire journey that begins with her chirpiness and an expert handling of her trade, only to reveal a life of betrayal, cruelty and the desperate need to survive. However, as the two characters head towards the final stop, the film unpacks its layers gradually, allowing the viewer an uplifting, hopeful message that rests patiently within its conclusion.

Highway Nights | Short Film of the Month

The narrative does a notable job of invoking several elements and thematic concerns - childhood trauma, mental illness, battles with medication, sexual exploitation - and engages with each of them adequately. The story is of Titir, Mithi and Tirtha, childhood friends who were separated from each other by a terribly tragic event. Even though their paths may have crossed again in adulthood, their equation is far from what it used to be. 

Plagued by the many travails of time, both Mithi and Tirtha battle their own personal demons as well. The portrayal of this friendship becomes the preoccupation of the film. The film further utilizes poetry and symbolism to enhance itself, eventually leaving the viewer with a meaningful story of malice, loss, but also friendship, and loyalty.

Sleeping Pills | Short Film Nominee

Grahak is a relevant comment on gender and the plight of young women who are forced into prostitution. It further ropes in romance to weave it all together. The story is of a prostitute's encounter with a boy who has come to her to prove a point to his friends. The night progresses to reveal Chaaru's distance from the outside world and society which allows no space to the 'bad women' of patriarchy. It offers a moving portrayal of a moment when she is temporarily allowed acceptance in the same society which, if on the one hand rejects women of a particular kind, glorifies and extols another kind of femininity on the other. As the stories of the two characters intertwine, there is also a unique companionship that they will find with each other, and it will be this companionship which will come determine the narrative of the film.

Grahak | Short Film of the Day

If a woman attempts to break out of the cycle of violence and oppression meted out to her by patriarchy, will she be allowed an escape? The short film raises the same question and attempts to answer it in a poignant manner. The performances of all the actors, primarily the lead, are worth mentioning. They enrich Ganga most significantly and allow it to be a stirring piece of art. The first half of the short film comes across to be stronger, since the latter bit gives in to sentimentality. It could either have been deliberately adopted by the filmmakers as a plot device for its target audience or it could simply be the result of engaging with topics as nuanced and intense as prostitution, gender and the location of women in society. While the former can be seen as a strength, the latter is a weakness to be addressed. For a viewer not familiar with the language of the narrative, the film will also benefit from more comprehensive English subtitling.

Ganga | Short Film Nominee

The short film is a refreshing take on gender, prostitution, the location of sex workers in society and lastly, and most importantly, their relationship with their pimp. As Om tries to procure customers for the young women that work under him, there is a sense of protectiveness along with affection that makes the relationship unique. While there is the question of survival, it is not to be answered at the cost of harming one's own. Om protects the four women fiercely and ensures their safety. In return, he is rewarded with their unwavering loyalty and dedication. The world might be a tough nut to crack, but at least the characters of this film have found their own sense of community in each other, perhaps allowing the viewer a brief sense of hope when things seem bleak otherwise.

The Wonder of Slum 105  | Short Film Nominee

The film is an exploration of a dark reality of sexual abuse of women at the hands of greedy and power-hungry men. The story unfolds to reveal a seedy deal between two men, a pimp and his client. It also offers a comment on juvenile criminals, and how sometimes even after having committed a heinous crime, they are not meted out a punishment in proportion to it. As they sit discussing their individual stories, ahead of the decided time of the meeting with the young girls, the plot develops and takes the viewer deeper into a grim world of deception, blackmail and one of making money by entrapping young women and girls. Things go as far as to reveal an ugly reality of suicide and death. In the second half of the film, things move swiftly to further reveal a truth that is aimed at shocking the viewer. However, what will be the fate of the protagonist when all cards are finally laid out on the table?

I Am Seventeen | Short Film Nominee

TW: Sexual assault 

Our first introduction to the film is by way of a voiceover - a woman sharing her life and experiences. Her relationship with her father is marked by deep love, nearly making up for the absent love of the mother she lost during her birth. Layer by layer, the story is revealed as one of sexual assault, abduction, parting and the longing for a loved one. All of these events are allowed to unfold along with the poetic voiceover, consistently maintaining its rhyme and rhythm. However, where will fate truly lead a father who is looking for his missing daughter? Will they ever meet again, and if yes, would that union be a lasting one? As for the title of the film, Manhoos or the unfortunate one, is it truly the protagonist who is unfortunate or is it the situations in a society that have led her to this point? The film raises all of these questions, providing its own sombre answers for each one of them.

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