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

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.

Hickey | Short Film of the Day

When a happily married man waits for his wife, lying beside him in bed, to fall asleep so that he can take his
phone to the bathroom, the viewer usually expects only one cause for the behaviour - the man is having
an affair with another woman. When a short film opens with a scene like that, it already launches itself
into an uphill battle as warding off such a deeply entrenched memory/bias of the viewer is a challenge itself. 
The only way, then, to triumph is to present the viewer with an equally powerful and opposing image,
and suspend the film in moot. Purple achieves that triumph, albeit within the restricted grammar of a
short film.

Purple | Short Film of the Day

Throw in actors like Neena Gupta, Aditi Rao Hydari, Amol Parashar and what do you get? You get a fun short film like Mama's Boys. Hello, modern day Bhim and Yudhishtir - one goes to the gym while the other latches on to Arjun for free bike rides. No, the short film didn't forget Nakul and Sahdev - struggling fashion designers who want to keep their homosexuality hidden from their mother, because after all, they ARE mama's boys. Mama's Boys is marked by the brand of humour that exploits hypersexualisation to invoke laughter. Also, the film would have benefited greatly by a more well-rounded and less abrupt ending.

Mama's Boys | Short Film of the Day

The film constructs its world gingerly, revealing each detail in an organic manner. Twenty-three-year-old Raghav is on his way to meet a woman as part of some seedy arrangement. However, he is in for the most horrifying shock when he finds his fate hanging between a life of ruin, or eternal damnation in a purgatory consumed by only lust. The decision of this outcome is in the hands of the eponymous Gumraaj, the younger brother of Yamraj, whose raison d'etre is to punish and control a humankind gone astray. 

While Raghav’s life may be of youth, it is not devoid of darkness, licentiousness, and indulgence dictated by misogyny, unrestricted lust, and objectification of women. By presenting a story that weaves in elements of horror, thrill, and fantasy, the film presents a social commentary on all of these issues. Care is taken to ensure it does not become an overbearing morality tale, instead remaining engaging and thoughtful throughout for the viewer. Consequently, the film’s world-building and storytelling become its most notable strengths. The performances, as well as the chemistry between the two primary characters, further support the endeavor. 

 

The end result loses some points when it comes to the seamlessness of the edit, but it is a small characteristic, easy to overlook in the face of the realm that the film conjures. The developments remain unexpected and meaningul, forever sustaining and maintaining the motivations of its characters as well as the plot that, in turn, keep pushing the film forward.

Gumraaj | Short Film Nominee

The music video, that succeeds a prelude released ahead of the final product, touches upon young people’s struggle to come to terms with their sexuality. The struggle to fit in is always intense, but this intensity increases manifold if it involves inexperience of teenage life. The vocals and lyrics are powerful and exhibit a certain sophistication which works wonders for pieces of art that deal with topics of gender, sexuality, love and relationships.

Pehchan Koi Nahi | Short Film of the Day

Indian domesticity and sexuality are two paths that never overlap, and there is nothing to be gained from this forced distancing. ‘Let’s Talk Later’ explores the same thought by introducing us to a family that lives in a small house, sleeping in the same room. 

Consequently, the children are exposed to the intimacy of the parents with devastating consequences, especially for the pubescent daughter, Shweta. Despite her inability to truly comprehend the experience, she also tries her best to protect her younger brother. The narrative does a competent job of delineating the vulnerability of the children, and the manner in which they are disturbed by the circumstance. 

There is also an engagement with the deep discomfort of the mother, adding one more layer to the story that works in its favor. At the heart of it all rests the compelling reminder to find a way to normalise sexuality for children in a healthy manner, and to put an end to the desexualization of Indian domestic spaces.

Let's Talk Later | Short Film Nominee

Pivoting itself on an artistic endeavor, the Aravani Art Project, that works with the transgender community in Bangalore, the documentary urges the audience to participate in a crucial conversation. The voices that are presented are undaunted, even in the face of all the struggles and obstacles that they have already overcome, and battle still on a daily basis. 
The narrative does a notable job of not venturing into the territory of maudlin sentimentalism. Instead, it presents stories of triumph and strength, all of it achieved in a nuanced, sensitive manner. It invokes childhood toys, tokens of beauty, the hair or smile of a subject on camera, to discuss all of this and some more. 

There is also the exploration of the relationship that is shared between Bangalore and the remarkable subjects of the story. Though the end result could have been defined by a tighter narrative, it presents a conversation that is compelling and crucial.

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links