This Rajkumar Rao-starrer will leave you gasping for breath by the end of it. Remind yourself to not feel choked by the futility of human conflict, often arising out of empty causes we lead ourselves to believe in. This brilliant short-film further shows that, if deluded, people can behave in the most absurd, cruel manner. Bombay Mirror leaves the audience with a powerful message, that some things ARE very obviously black and white and should be openly condemned. Watch this Shlok Sharma piece of art to find out what they are.

Bombay Mirror | Short Film of the Day

In an ideal world, all religions have one name and that's faith. It unites all devotees and believers with a common thread, and this short film gives us a glimpse of this perfect universe. Hind takes the viewer into the life of Noorul Hasan, a Muslim from Lucknow, who gave away a part of his house to rebuild a temple. In a world which is constantly in the grasp of hate-mongering and sensationalist headlines, this film by Sumit Aroraa is the kind of art we need. Even in the face of all communal disharmony being perpetrated by a few for their own motives, there is another aspect of the picture which is more colourful and beautiful and therefore should be looked at closely. It's these colours that Hind will draw your attention to, and leave you with a sense of hope and love, irrespective of how dark things may seem.

Hind | Short Film of the Day

In a country that's premised on secularism, can people's identity be chalked down to a single religion? The short film seems to suggest it can be indeed, but in quite an unpredictable manner. The strengths of One Faith are several - from elegant visuals to smooth transitions, from adept writing to its inability to hold the viewer's attention. The narrative also earns full points for having an endearing twist at the end. The short film thus becomes a wholesome product to be consumed on a gloomy day to rekindle your faith in mankind's ability to be kind, make friends, and above all, not take things too seriously.

One Faith | Short Film of the Day

It’s a lovely winter morning in Kashmir when Haleema meets her close friend Tara. As the two women sit down to chat, share a moment and eventually go about the town, arm in arm with each other, a bond marked by intimacy and deep affection is conjured for the viewer. 
The tonality and writing is deliberately suffused with warmth and an uplifting delineation of a friendship. However, tragedy is swift to strike, and in this sudden reversal of fortune, the narrative offers its core message to the viewer. 
Without meandering into overt sentimentalism, the film presents its comment on the mindlessness of a form of violence that is executed in the name of imagined boundaries of religion and communal differences. The vagaries of life are put under question, as the hope, and the voice which stood for it, is silenced with a brutal act of cruelty. The storytelling, and performance both show earnestness, thereby, allowing the film lucidity in communicating its message to you.

The Good News | Short Film Nominee

The short film could be about a lot of things, but essentially, it can all be condensed to a father's love for his children. While the love for his son might harden his heart in one situation, the love for his daughter melts it into warmth and affection in another. Made in honour of Major Udai Singh, an Indian army officer who succumbed to his injuries while fighting militants in Kashmir in 2003, the film explores one of the many ways his surviving family deals with grief. When his father’s laptop stops functioning, the company sends a technician whose name happens to be Imtiaz Khan. As the ageing father reluctantly opens his house to a Muslim, there’s indeed a long distance to be covered within the short duration of a couple of minutes.

The Complaint | Short Film of the Day

The film attempts a powerful message, especially relevant in contemporary times, in its short duration, employing a simple, lucid narrative. The most notable aspect of Mehtab (Light of the Moon) are the wonderful visuals, seamlessly weaved together to present its story to the viewer. Essentially, the film is a glimpse into a girl's life who eagerly awaits her father's letters. One day, when instead of going to class, she decides to sit down with sweets and one of the letters, what important message awaits her? The film is calm in its approach, and succeeds in applying it in a wonderful manner. Further, the eponymous name of the protagonist serves as a metaphor for light, both in her own life where a single mother takes care of her, as well as in a world that finds itself plagued with discrimination and communal disharmony.

Mehtab | Short Film of the Day

Very few films get the tone and mood right from the word go and Maidaan happens to fall in that sparsely populated category. As an open playground is taken over by the government to build a temple, the narrative traverses the struggle of a young cricket coach to fight against the decision. The film works on multiple levels and turns out to be a wholesome experience for the viewer. Be it a commentary on religion, the dedication to faith (in a god or in a sport), the refreshing portrayal of women talking about cricket, the protagonist's reading list which includes the famed Richard Dawkins and the acceptance that sometimes there is no right or wrong, simply a difference of belief systems, the film touches upon several aspects, yet does not try to be anything it's not. While this may be a mistake several artists fall prey too, Maidaan sails clear of it and leaves the viewer with a satisfying short film.

Maidaan | Short Film of the Day

The short film has a wonderful message for the viewer - the universal nature of faith. No matter the name we choose for them, Bhagwan or Allah, they are all the same indeed. The strength of the film lies in its writing - how it uses the innocent questions of a child to remind grownups - the simplicity of a truth they have forgotten while raising imaginary walls and boundaries. Laddoo is a good short film, but what keeps it from being great is its massy nature. While keeping its audience in mind, it perhaps attempted to reach out to a larger section of society. This could perhaps explain why it rides so high on emotions, bordering on becoming maudlin in parts. All in all, a decently produced piece of art which deserves brownie points for the intention it sets out with.

Laddoo | Short Film of the Day

Despite the presence of Article 15 in the Indian Constitution, which forbids discrimination of people based on their religion, caste and creed, the contemporary reality in the country is far from it. This video with Ayushmann Khurana calls out the same. Ahead of the release of his film Article 15, it becomes one of the many similar videos Khurrana has been doing with other publications. In terms of treatment, the video is simple and straight. The writing is constituted by powerful poetry, questioning the status quo. It earns full points for being thought provoking and impactful, albeit not standing out for its visuals, art direction and overall execution.

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