No Smoking is a short film with a powerful message. As the title suggests, it has a word of caution against smoking and actors like Sunny Leone and Deepak Dobriyal have gotten on board to get it across. The script involves humour, crisp writing, and leaves the viewer with the satisfaction of not having wasted even a single second on an extra shot. The tightness of the narrative is further complemented with effortless comedy timing. No Smoking concludes with an almost complete absence of any dialogues towards the end, yet with an emphatic message that hits home hard.

No Smoking | Short Film of the Day

The film opens on a seemingly harmless, and potentially uplifting note - the start of a new family. A loving couple celebrates a pregnancy in a world that has just begun to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic. While they rejoice in the news, a box of crayons and a burning cigarette never truly leave the frame. 

The film then moves forward by a couple of years. The family has survived the pandemic, but another more sinister enemy is yet to be vanquished - the addiction to smoking. The film gives a glimpse into how devastating such an addiction can be, not simply for one individual and their health, but also for their loved ones and families. 

Additionally, there is a suggestion of how easy it can be to take comfort in a habit as terrible as this during a moment of weakness, but a reminder of its consequences, alongside the call from a loved one, holds the power to prevent someone from going down this path. Though a few rough edges appear briefly when it comes to the construction of the screenplay, the short film remains unwavering and steadfast in the articulation and portrayal of all of these intentions.

Crayyons | Spotlight

When the film opens, it gives you little to no idea of the direction it is headed in. The narrative deliberately keeps you unaware of its core intentions as it portrays an evening in the life of its protagonist. After hanging up a call with an unknown caller, he prepares to unwind with a plate of food and eventually, a cigarette. Without saying much or relying too heavily on dialogues, the film further introduces us to the protagonist's unease with smoking, perhaps also suggesting his awareness of the damage he is doing to himself. And yet, there is not any change in his actions. He enjoys one drag after another, all the while giving you a glimpse into his internal conflict, and eventually goes to bed, leaving you with a powerful image that explains and justifies the film's title. The story and its treatment exhibit potential, albeit along with a want of better control on its lights and shadows, leaving the door open with the possibility of more similar work by the team.

White Sheet | Short Film Nominee

The film is a hilarious account of a man trying to find himself a quiet corner to enjoy a cigarette. Following a national ban by the government on the sale of tobacco and related products, he finds himself in a quandary of sorts which gets more and more complicated as the narrative begins to unfold. From his office prohibiting smoking to misadventures with friends that keep him away from that desired drag, the film becomes a seamless weaving together of a series of comedic moments. It is further marked by authentic performances and chemistry that ensure that the film is a fun, lighthearted and endearing watch about a man's struggle to truly achieve completion of his intention to smoke. However, even when he finally manages to procure a cigarette after what had seemed like endless endeavours, will the universe be kind enough to allow him this evasive moment of peace?

Ek Sutta | Short Film Nominee

The narrative engages with several concerns that, on the surface, are about the struggles of a smoker in quarantine. However, an interesting turn of events makes it clear that the film is about much more. In its concise manner, it offers a comment on the importance of someone's financial and professional background in determining their location in society. It further goes to show how the existence of a person is reduced to that of a mere rat, notably captured in its brevity. The film, however, loses crucial points in the sound department and could have benefited from some fine-tuning of the same.

Hence a Smoker in Lockdown | Lockdown Film Challenge

‘The Missing Piece’ adopts an experimental approach to deal with a circumstance several people would be all too familiar with. All the drama in this short unfolds within the darkness of the night. 
Amidst shadows, there are a pair of impatient, rushed hands looking for something. The pursuit of this item forms the body of the final result. It is in the fate of this desperate search, and its eventual outcome that the film makes its message clear to the viewer.

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links