The oppression of patriarchy spreads far beyond affecting any single gender, and often finds echoes in ideas of male sexuality itself. The short film foregrounds the same point through its engagement with homosexuality in rural India. It is powerful in this exploration and presents the viewer with a poignant narrative. A boy grapples to ascertain his equation with his brute of a father who is cruel to him as well as his mother. Simultaneously, he finds comfort in a lover and best friend. However, since the relationship does not subscribe to a heteronormative idea of gender and sexuality, it is doomed to meet an ugly end. The film also attempts and succeeds at a moving portrayal of homosexuality in a small village where the monolithic idea of masculinity reigns free. The visuals are further imbued with a gravity and stillness that serve to make the narrative deeper. The performances are notable as is the storytelling, enabling the film to successfully convey all that it had set out to at the start.

Kohrra | Short Film of the Day

Against the hinterland of 2014 rural India, when it is still untouched by technology and the internet, and is instead marked by child marriages and walls covered with social messaging about covered toilets, the film allows its narrative to develop. One morning, three school boys (who choose to refer to their eleventh grade school as 'college', a notably authentic touch to the story), find a smartphone. As a scuffle ensues regarding the ownership of the phone, the desire for internet has also begun to stretch its limbs in their imagination. While the story is still establishing its premise, a new girl comes into the village and is soon the inhabitant of the only house with a wireless internet connection in the area. The film, marked by its lovely visuals and camerawork, allows the WiFi at her house to be the common pin that holds the entire plot together. It is also the pivot on which the film rotates, bringing in several emotions - of friendship, young love, loyalty, mischief and an eventual acceptance. It is fresh and contemporary of the right kind in its premise, sincere in its attempt to localise the story and successful in tying all of these elements together in an organic, cohesive narrative.

WiFi | Short Film of the Day

Janwaar, a village that could perhaps serve as a microcosm of rural India in several ways, is one which has found itself falling prey to deep-rooted casteism. In such a scenario, it was education of the young minds that became an efficient tool to fight this particular form of oppression. The documentary delves into a community where the Yadavs and the Adivasis are divided by a deep chasm of untouchability, discrimination, and the desire of the powerful to allow no change in the lot of the oppressed, thereby continuing to maintain the status quo. The narrative follows the activities of a German woman, Ulrike Reinhard, and her attempts to empower the children of the village with education. Her approach for the same is a unique one - it involves skateboarding. This allows the film to unearth a moving story of small victories even in the face of all obstacles, while allowing the viewer a glimpse into a uniquely endearing cultural nexus.

Wheeled Wings | Short Film of the Day

‘Khajina’ is a narrative that combines drama and humor in an effortless manner, all along keeping audiences fully engaged in the most unlikely endeavors of its protagonist. Shobha has been told by a woman that her small piece of farmland might be harboring pots of gold beneath the earth. Already battling financial trouble, she decides to head out in the middle of the night with a shovel and torch to start digging and unearth at least one of these pots. 

When Kisna, Shobha’s husband, too finds out about the strange undertaking, not only is he quick to join her, but he further ropes in the help of the local drunkard, also his closest friend, Gajya. Suffice to say, soon the entire village is up in arms, digging relentlessly for the evasive, obscure gold. 

The narrative is weaved and presented in a smooth manner, marked by notable performances of its cast, each of which bring their character to life with conviction. The end result is not only entertaining, but also subverts expectations to drive home a message that is deeper and more relevant than what the viewer might have expected at first glance.

Khajina | Short Film Nominee

Chandru is a hardworking student who only dreams of getting himself a pair of slippers. Every time he sees his equally hardworking father, he simply has one request - to get the footwear. The film starts on a harmless, innocent note, but soon invokes deeper, more complicated issues of caste-based oppression and cruelty meted out to little kids by adults because of prejudice. 
The inability of our ten-year-old protagonist to understand these complexities of the adult world add a crucial layer to the narrative, making its message clear and more impactful. Though the film could have gained from a smoother conclusion, it remains an important story worthy of discussion and engagement.

Chandrudu | Short Film Nominee

The Real Millionaire is a Marathi short film which tells an endearing story of Vishnu, a farmer who gets a call to participate in the Indian telelvision show Kaun Banega Crorepati?. The film opens with an excited child announcing his father's return to the village. The viewer is introduced to the premise soon after as the narrative unfolds to reveal that Vishnu was unsuccessful in finally getting to the hot seat for participation. The whole village, which has turned up to receive him, is disappointed after seeing his grim face, and soon a plan is hatched to change that. The short film is simple and honest and packs in decent performances to tell its story.

The Real Millionaire | Short Film Nominee

The narrative takes us into the life of Tulsiram who lives in Dharakhoh, a quiet corner of rural India close to Bhopal and Nagpur. His existence is simple and marked only by a life of needs. The wants are few, as are the demands from the world around him. The intention of the narrative seems to echo and celebrate this simplicity. 
We are presented with little anecdotes from our protagonist’s life. From mysteries of cows who suddenly stop lactating to the many small ways in which he makes a living for himself to the manner in which his village changes with the changing seasons of the year - all of these various elements have a role to play in sharing his story. The end result is straightforward and well-meaning.

Son of Satpura | Short Film Nominee

At the heart of the documentary lies a very compelling issue - the education of young women, along with the many ways society and the world fails them at every stage. 
It tackles it by taking us into the hinterland of Rajasthan, and drawing the viewer's attention to primarily the experiences of four girls, Jeena, Indira, Varsha and Basanti. From the pandemic to alcoholism to injuries and lack of proper health facilities, all of them become issues that plague their lives, with their education being the final fatality of them all. Even though the narratorial progression could gain from a little more coherent weaving of its various events, it exhibits potential in its visual storytelling, as well as the desire to share its intentions with the world.

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