Trigger warning: sexual assault, violence 
The film treats its narrative in a manner that ensures you are deeply involved in the unfolding events, all along being disconcerted at your interest in the morbidity of it all. 

The protagonist, a serial killer, is led by his hatred towards women while choosing his victims. He not only murders them brutally, but also records their last moments on camera. One day, his path crosses with two men, who may not be serial killers, but are just as brutal in their approach towards women. 

The film weaves an involving narratorial development, with the predominant action confined to a single night. The story remains engaging throughout, the performances authentic. The plot presents a disturbing reality, and a suggestion of the cyclical nature of violence, especially when it's rooted in sexism and misogyny, but brief as it may be, perhaps there’s also a small respite and moment of redemption to be had amidst it all.

With Love From a Killer | Short Film Nominee

A woman arrives at an unknown location, all by herself, to meet a strange man. This is the image which is offered to the viewer right at the start of the film. She is unsure, worried and deeply afraid of something, and yet, she continues her endeavor - interviewing a serial killer, a mentally unbalanced, deranged man who has a past of violence, both inflicted on and by him. 

The film employs a limited physical space, the entirety of the conversation unfolding without the characters moving from their position right until the end. And yet the fear and unease that the narrative manages to instill in the viewer is powerful and notable. Consequently, Atrangi becomes a product that simply utilizes its writing and performances to invoke an atmosphere of horror. 

 A sense of something sinister being afoot never leaves you throughout the film, making you deeply concerned about the fate of the woman who sits before this man who, on the other hand, is recounting all his crimes and acts of cruelty with absolute nonchalance. It is in this use of few resources, minus any garish tools and devices, to successfully communicate its story, that the true success of the film lies, keeping you engaged and involved all along. The film could have gained from more control on the lucidity of its visuals. However, the uncertainty about the fate of the characters preoccupies you instead of its technical aspects, further ensuring that when the revelation finally arrives, it is a conclusion befitting the premise set so far.

Atrangi | Short Film of the Day

‘Vaanapamu’ is a violent, gory ride about the murder of a woman, opening with a shot that grabs your attention by the horns right at the very start. After a woman has been brutally killed, two police officers, led by the famous ACP Prakash Narayan, known for cracking open even the most formidable cases, take upon the investigation. The three interrogate the eponymous protagonist together, taking the viewer down some very dark paths. 
The writing of the film deserves a mention for weaving a tale that is both shocking and entertaining, ensuring to hold your attention throughout. Even though there is want of a sturdier control over the film’s sound, it is easy to overlook this rough edge in the face of all the action unfolding before you. 
At the end of it all, the audience is presented with revelations that alter the course of the plot irrevocably, ensuring that the story is taken home in a smooth manner.

Vaanapamu | Short Film Nominee

Trigger warning: sexual assault 

The entirety of the plot unfolds during the night, but instead of darkness, the visuals are dominated by red and green light - two primary colors with their well-defined boundaries. It could perhaps suggest the mingling of two equal forces, a union the pursuit of which defines the movement of the story. 
Within the first few minutes itself, disturbing developments ensconce themselves within the film, introducing us to a night of violence and sexual assault. The malicious protagonist soon moves on to his next victim - a chirpy, talkative boy who does not shy away from revealing his appetite. He further mentions a game of rock, paper, scissors, not simply echoing the title, but also making the viewer truly pay attention to the equation unfolding before them. 

As the plot continues to move forth, each of these layers is gradually unwrapped, presenting to you a story of horror and terrible events from which there is no looking away.

Rock Paper Scissors | Short Film Nominee

A psychopath is ruminating his next kill, and the viewer is allowed to join him in this enthusiastic, detailed musing. A woman is coming over for a romantic dinner, completely oblivious to imminent events. The narrative, thus, comes to offer a parallel development of the internal workings of the protagonist’s mind, alongside the very external conversation and dinner unfolding between him and the woman. The end result earns points for its approach as well as stylistic choices that triumph the story or plot. The door is definitely left open for further stabs at playing around with the former, making it interesting to see where more such creative pursuits can lead.

Élan | Short Film Nominee

It's the short narrative's endeavor to glimpse into the darkness of the human mind. Adopting a first-person approach, it introduces us to a serial killer who is addicted to the crimson blood of his victims. There is dedicated effort to portray the various violent acts he commits on screen, alongside a voiceover that shares the motivations behind these acts and all that the protagonist seeks to achieve from his killings. Remorse and guilt are completely absent, what remains is only an adrenaline rush and the pursuit of seeking the next when it is over. The attempt, thus, is to put these various elements together in the form of a completed whole.

The Colour of Blood | Short Film Nominee

A group of friends led by Amy, the protagonist, arrive at their associate’s flat for a house party with music and drinks. Amy casually teases the seemingly uncomfortable and awkward host, before joining her friends. The host enjoys the sliver of attention and reveals his obsession with Amy in a monologue meant for the audience, describing his desire to own her. 
As the party proceeds, with an unwelcome gaze from the host, the film cuts to an unconscious Amy lying on the bed, her legs tied together with a garland. The film talks about the victimization of women in everyday life, and how they are preyed on in a predominantly patriarchal society.

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