India is just beginning to engage with several aspects of gender and sexuality, and what better way to encourage the conversation than art. This short film, a Myntra creation as part of its Bold is Beautiful campaign, attempts precisely that. Pretty frames, talented actors and a smooth narrative is what The Visit offers. It also succeeds in the most graceful manner to convey its message about the importance of freedom to love who you want.

The Visit | Short Film of the Day

WINNER, GENDER SENSITIVITY AWARD

SPECIAL SCREENING

OFFICIAL SELECTION - SATYAJIT RAY SHORT FILM COMPETITION

NOMINATION - BEST MOVIE NON FICTION

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Authentic, unique and extremely entertaining - the latest offering by filmmaker Devashish Makhija is surely all of this, and much more. The narrative takes us into the friendship of three women and portrays the myriad ways in which it gets tied with sexuality, loyalty, looking out for one another and lastly, but also quite importantly - the big O of a woman's life. 



The execution of the plot, which is marked by an element of magical realism, also attains a surreal quality as it presents itself to the viewer. The true triumph of the film, however, lies in the fact that the engagement with its concerns is carried out in a notably effortless manner, tying itself with the filmmaker's own comments about how the narrative came to be. Not taking itself too seriously, the relationships of the characters come across as effervescent, beautifully blending in this dance of rebellions in a small town, little transgressions, snatched and stolen moments of pleasure and joy, and how it is in these small moments indeed that life is weaved. 

The final result steers clear of any vulnerabilities the exploration of thematic underpinnings of the kind exposes a story to, leaving you with a colorful, uplifting, perhaps even educational, film at the end of it all.

Cheepatakadumpa | Devashish Makhija | Short Film of the Day

Did someone say desire? Yes! Did someone say attraction? Oh, yes. Did someone say S-E-X? Yes, yes, yes! But wait, did someone ALSO say female sexuality? Oh, maybe not. Look away everyone, look away and pretend it never happened. This short film draws attention to precisely this aspect of sexuality where women's desires are to be discussed only in hushed whispers behind closed doors. The narrative moves around light banter between a mother-daughter duo, silently but strongly backed by their female domestic help. The women are only talking about the ingredients of the delicacies cooked in a kitchen, but are they really?

Khaney main kya hai | Short Film of the Day

The story is of an Arjun and an Indra, of magical stones and a disappeared boy. Add to it Radhika Apte in one of her most alluring avatars as a convincing coquette, and the short film is bound to catch your attention. The setting is the house of an artist somewhere in West Bengal. One afternoon a police officer visits him regarding the disappearance of a boy called Arjun who was last known to have met him. The mystery of the missing boy which is introduced to the viewer is taut with the sexual tension between the police officer and the young wife of his ageing host. The plot is the overarching force that drives this film, a modern day take on the myth of Ahalya in which the power structures have been reversed. Further, the narrative is weaved most seamlessly by skilled performances of its three actors.

Ahalya | Short Film of the Day

Sexuality, mental health, racism and dysfunctional Indian families - the film engages with all of these issues in a palatable manner without giving in to high-sounding jargon. Imagine the premise as a plot device equivalent of a person entering a room and yelling, "Sex!", immediately followed by, "Now that I have your attention, let's talk business". The film achieves this by centering the major chunk of its action around a hickey in clear view of the world on the fair skin of its protagonist. The film might come across as being overly sentimental or dramatic in some parts. However, that's not a flaw, but seems like a conscious choice on the part of the filmmakers with a very clear idea of who their viewer is. It talks about anxiety, the pressure to get married on women, domestic abuse and the burden of expectations on school students, and manages to keep its tone relatable all along. This ensures that the story rings loud and true with its viewer, allowing it to successfully communicate all that it has set out to.

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links