A short film, more often than nought, is a moment frozen in time. Bebasee reaffirms this premise by simply introducing the viewer to the helplessness of a woman, as the title suggests, without weighing itself down with the whys and hows of it. An exploration of the familial space and the domestic conflict that resides within it, the film begins and ends in medias res, but still manages to offer a complete narrative, irrespective of the stage the story is located at. It opens on a note marked by high tension, one which is fraught with conflict and anxiety, gradually simmering down, allowing the plot an organic movement. In its short duration, the film packs a powerhouse of a story. Marked by its crispness, and without wasting a single moment, the story is shared with the viewer in an impactful manner. The frames and camera angles exhibit intelligence and thought, allowing the film to succeed not only at the level of story and creativity, but also technique and skill. Further enhanced by a seamlessness that is a reflection of the director's maturity at handling the subject, and notable chemistry of its young cast, the film becomes a well-rounded, balanced product.

Bebasee | Short Film of the Day

The film offers a very involving, skilled narrative that presents its many developments at a gradual, organic pace. The story is constructed with care, ensuring it remains imbued with thrill as well as a shocking progression of events in the most unexpected manner. 

However, the world it conjures to share all of this with the viewer, at first glance, is far from it. It’s simply a conversation between two sisters until one realizes that the space is rife with resentment, bitterness, and a constant threat of violence. 

Anu has walked out on her relationship in the middle of the night, asking her sister to come pick her up. Even in the face of the darkness of an empty, lonely corner of a street, or gawking strangers, or a little-too-inquisitive cops, she is undaunted. The same resilience is present in her elder sister as well. When these elements and characteristics are tied together neatly at the film’s conclusion, supplemented by the chemistry, and notable performances of the two actors, they present a story of far darker occurrences than the viewer might have expected at the beginning.

Anu Aur Di | Short Film of the Day

Trigger warning: Based on true events, the short film is a jarring reminder of brutal sexual violence against young girls and women in India. The story is of a small town in Punjab where a boy lives with his younger sister. The narrative is handled maturely and does not give in to sentimentalism, voyeurism and excessive violence that films of this kind often fall prey to. Ayaana draws attention to how widespread rapes are in the country and how little is the punishment that is meted out to the perpetrators. Consequently, it serves to disturb the viewer and has the potential to spur them into action against this much prevalent form of sexual abuse and assault.

Ayaana | Short Film of the Day

The entirety of the plot is a conversation between two siblings, as they scream out each other's secrets to their mother from the terrace of their house. The film ropes in humour and the relatability of a sibling conflict to share its story. What starts off from a pregnancy test, concludes with a piece of cloth marked by its rainbow colours, and the statement they inherently carry within. As the shouting match continues, the secrets seem to be building up to something that would eventually come to alter the tone of the film in a permanent fashion. When it finally arrives, will the characters and the viewer be prepared for it? Secret endeavours to do its bit to normalise queer identities without giving in to sentimentalism or cliches. It weaves its story in a direct manner, along with skilled camerawork and an honesty to storytelling and performance.

Secret | Short Film of the Day

Short films that manage to simply capture and freeze a moment in time, and nothing more, are often sufficient to successfully tell an important story without needing any further embellishments. Didi! is a wonderful example of the same proposition. It is crisp, taut and surprisingly sweet in its storytelling, and the manner in which it portrays its characters and the relationship they share. The first dialogue in the film is an annoyed calling out to an elder sister, "Didi!". The first sound is that of a screeching alarm clock early in the morning. The way these two will get tied together to reveal the true motivations of the story will leave you with a heartwarming message about siblings, the wistfulness for a time whose value you realise only when it has passed and a beautiful bond that exists between two individuals as they move from one stage of their life to another, all the while deeply caring for each other.

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