Two strangers meet in a shared cab at 3 am in Bombay - one a writer with an advertising firm, the other an investment banker. One of them has had a very long day at work, the other has an anecdote to share about a beef curry he had two days ago. It's easy to see how the two are in completely different mental spaces, yet there's a common thread, one that often connects strangers in a big city. It could be the mad rush of it that forces them to find solace in brief encounters or moments, or it could be a divine, otherworldly connection. Detour, with its narrative most effortlessly handled by director and writer Sumi Mathai, and the convincing chemistry of Sayani Gupta and Vikrant Massey, explores these dynamics and leaves it up to the viewer to decide which is what.

Detour | Short Film of the Day

Move to a big city can be daunting, especially when you're all by yourself. However, things could get just a tad bit easier if you run into a helpful stranger. The short film is the story of one such night when a young professional who has just moved to Mumbai finds herself locked outside in her balcony. With no help available at hand, the only comfort she has is the voice of the friendly neighbour upstairs. Made as part of MensXP's Love on the Rocks series, Night Out is effervescent and young, making it an endearing watch that will leave you with warm fuzzies.

Night Out | Short Film of the Day

A taxi driver is just about to call it a day when a visibly shaken man comes and sits in his vehicle. Reluctantly, the driver decides to take him to his destination as his last ride for the night. As the story unfolds, the viewer realises that both men have their own darkness to share with each other. Aakhri Sawari, a film by Divyajot Singh, attempts to delve into the twisted notions of love, possessiveness and jealousy. The narrative uses these emotions as tools to create an atmosphere of mystery that will keep the viewer involved till the very end.

Aakhri Sawari | Short Film of the Day

The film opens with a moment of distress, a reality marked by ugliness, a morning that has everything going wrong with it, and yet, amidst it all, there is the possibility of an instance of ease that is achieved with a stranger. It is this thought which forms the premise of Sync. The narrative introduces us to a woman grieving her father's loss, and in some ways, also holding herself responsible for his death. Alongside this is the story of a man who is battling a major setback in love. As both characters deal with their own respective heartache, the plot seems to be moving towards an overlap of their stories - are they linked in anyway to each other? Are they adding to each other's turmoil? The viewer finds themselves looking for the answers with these questions, about to be met with them in due time, as the film comes into its own organically. It is further marked by lovely camerawork, strengthened by seamless transitions. The edit complements them wonderfully, the vocals and music are thoughtful and consistent with the mood of the story. All of them together help in conjuring a beautiful tonality and feel of the film, providing adequate closure to all your questions at its conclusion.

Synced | Short Film of the Day

Vihan, a successful business magnate, has chosen to book a shared cab to take some time off from his regular life of luxury. Little does he know that he is about to chance upon a stranger, Sandini, who will completely change the course of his day. 

As soon as Sandini sits in the car, an instant chemistry sparks between them, leading the two to be involved in a fun, lighthearted conversation with each other. This also comes to determine the tone of the rest of the narrative, which further employs music, songs and a constant banter between its characters. From restaurants and rooftops to streetside chaat vendors, their day consists of it all, taking the viewer along throughout. The music and visuals further offer a notably complementary coupling. The actors, though showing a little want of nuance and subtlety in their characters, render perhaps the perfect performance for their target audience. 

Supported by all of these components the story continues to develop. However, amidst the ease, joy and the thrilling excitement of a new romance, a disturbing revelation awaits the viewer. How will it come to affect the fate of Vihan and Sandini?

Woh Khaas | Short Film Nominee

Dacoit invokes a sense of grief, loss and a unique connection between two strangers. Attempting a narrative of past traumas, the story is about a man who robs an old woman of her purse. However, it is soon revealed that the bag is far more valuable than its contents for the woman. Thus begins a channel of communication between the woman and the robber, using the phone that was left behind in her bag. As she implores him to return her bag, even if in exchange for more money, he finds himself confronting his own darkness. While the messages may continue from the woman, would he find it in him to return the bag?

Dacoit | Short Film Nominee

When two strangers, completely opposite of each other, meet as a result of a chance encounter, new realisations and a fresh awareness of the self awaits the protagonist. Nidhi is a busy woman who runs her own cafe along a hilly road. One day, a vagrant biker, Samarth, arrives at the bistro. Impressed by the special chai, he ends up writing a little note to the chef, and thus begins their story, confined simply to handwritten notes. Through their conversation, a discussion about desires as well as the way someone chooses to live their life is invoked, leading Nidhi to understand something about her choices she perhaps had never understood before. The film is mellow and soft, and maintains the same tone throughout, first introducing the viewer to Nidhi's world, and then locating her within the several rejected and denied desires that constitute it. However, now that someone may have given her a glimpse of another way of life, is an unknown sense of happiness around the corner for her?

Chef's Special | Short Film Nominee

Two strangers meet one night under unusual circumstances. Both of them are men located at very
different stages in their life. The young man is reclusive and hesitant at first, but slowly warms up to the
cheer of the middle-aged man. What unites them is India’s finest, and most loved poet and lyricist,
Gulzar. Maybe it was the sentiment of the poetry, the chai, the silence of the night or something in the
air that made him open up about his life’s deepest struggles to a stranger and earn invaluable life
lessons from the exchange. 
The film has an easy-going vibe to it which invites the viewer to be involved without coercively demanding this involvement.

Parichay | Gulzar | Short Film Nominee

Five strangers react to a message to join a strange video call. These are people who don’t know each
other, but are connected in some uncanny way. The mystery-man, who has organized this video
conference, knows each one’s secret and threatens to unmask it to the world if they didn’t follow his
instructions. Unable to leave, the strangers have to rack their brains to find out the baffling common
chord that binds these personalities together. The film aims to invoke an atmosphere of suspense with an imminent threat of dire consequences if the characters don't do his bidding. Almost the entirety of the story is allowed to unfold using the same space of the screen split into six grids. However, when the narrative has run its course, what will be the fate of its characters?

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