In the village of Kamleshwar, the Good Morning Squad has taken it upon themselves to ensure anyone who participates in open defecation is subjected to a fine. One morning, when Vitthalrao finds himself in the path of the Squad, he makes a run for it, to eventually be met with a very tragic end. This accident puts numerous elements into action, involving media, news anchors and their boisterous television shows, along with politicians. 

Soon, Vitthalrao's surviving family, his son Balya and his wife, are roped into an overnight makeover of their house by the sarpanch Rambhau in preparation for the daura or visit of an important state minister. The plot comes into its own adroitly employing satire and dramedy to share a story of personal motives, the sham of sympathy, the indifference to a family's misery and struggles, and the various aspects tied with a sense of frivolity that only serves to echo 'Daura''s intentions loud and clear. The film does a seamless job of playing on the absurdity and ridiculousness of it all, marked by engaging storytelling and tonality throughout. The final result succeeds in delivering its message in an emphatic manner, allowing the narrative to be a composite, balanced whole.

Daura | Short Film of the Month

Moonlit sky, chirping crickets and an isolated, poorly-lit courtyard set-up a dark, moody tone for the film. A young man seated on a comfortable khatiya is seen enjoying famous songs of Indian cinema on his mobile phone. After some fidgeting, he decides to put his phone aside, turn the electric bulbs off, and light up candle lanterns instead, in preparation for going to bed. Soon, the sky grows darker, clouds thunder, and an eerie atmosphere prevails, marking the presence of an uninvited guest. Set in the time of Covid-19, the film uses horror and satire to spread the message of human wellbeing, urging its viewers to follow safety protocols. It emphasizes the dangers of the pandemic and how one needs to tread lightly in a world that grapples with a pandemic.

Darrr | Short Film Nominee

Set in a world where oranges are extremely crucial for surviving the rise in deficiency diseases, Unearth is a satirical take on youngsters and their understanding of the country’s socio-political situation. Friends from college, Krrish and Namrata, are both preoccupied with their own immediate issues which reflect in their conversation as they sit together one morning. 
For Krrish, having fresh, healthy oranges before leaving for office is a must, whereas Namrata is struggling with a severe neck-pain resulting from the previous night’s uncomfortable sleeping position. The two parties are inconsiderate of each other's issue, thinking of them to be trivial and not as important as their own. Ultimately as fate would have it, both end up in a similarly sour situation.

Unearth | Short Film Nominee

Aptly titled, Two Nations in a Lockdown, the film shows the stark contrast in the realities of the poor
and the privileged. The contradictions between the lives of people who thrive on the extreme ends of
the economic spectrum have always existed, but the aftermath of the nationwide pandemic imposed as
an outcome of the Covid-19 pandemic, has exposed huge gaps in our social circumstances. 
In the film, a couple is enjoying a rich meal, comfortably lounging in their house while, at the same time,
on the news, the exodus of the poor, migrant workers is being reported.

Two Nations in a Lockdown | Short Film Nominee

TW: Mention of rape 

Employing satire as its strongest tool, the short narrative puts forth a very important comment about a deeply disturbing aspect of Indian society - the practice of making women marry their rapist, one often supported by governmental institutions as well. The tonality of the film remains that of a romance, consisting of soft music, smiling faces - and yet, the dialogue that develops before you is far from it. It makes you uneasy with its portrayal of a festering aspect of our reality. What makes matters worse is the manner in which it is often normalized, making this particular story's comment notably relevant in contemporary times.

MarryTheRapist.com | Short Film Nominee

Made as a parody of one of the most iconic Bollywood films, Rang De Basanti, this video positions itself as a trailer of the sequel of the same. The story is of a young protagonist who wants to make a film on Tipu Sultan. However, given the hyper-political environment in the country, he is advised to do otherwise. As he onsets on the journey of making an independent, impactful film, auditions are held, work is begun and the realisation to not repeat the mistakes of his predecessors in the previous film is achieved. There is an attempt to invoke humour at the expense of the conflicted ideas of nationalism and the state of things which are a direct echo of contemporary Indian reality. The film is an ambitious satire, despite its limited resources, and is an honest endeavour deserving appreciation for trying to use humour to accentuate the importance of effecting change.

RDB 2: Tipu's Revenge | Short Film Nominee

The short film locates itself about a decade in the future and brings in satire to talk about its intentions. It is the story of a bunch of politicians who develop a problem in their spine immediately after they take their oath of office. However, this is not a blanket reality that consumes them all for there are some who are exempted from this fate, and whose backs remain healthy and pain-free. The politicians with the ache are found to be corrupt and associated with illegal behaviour, further asserts the film, revealing that this isn't the fate of only Indian politicians. It spreads far and wide across the world. The idea of getting your spine damaged by corrupt behaviour is the comment the film wants to leave the viewer with. There is further the invocation of a disease or something rotting, festering inside our society, that the film underlines for its audience.

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