During the coronavirus lockdown, we have all had at least that one friend who somehow found it possible to turn themselves into productivity machines. Things would have been perfectly alright up until this point if only they had not chosen to share their enthusiasm with the rest of the world as well by means of a social media onslaught. Then came the culinary experts who swore to flood our lives with every little attempt of chopping an onion. And yet, one could have contended themselves in the name of the various emotional pressures that our 'new normal', as the internet loved to call it, put so many of us under, leaving everyone with whatever coping mechanisms they could grasp at. However, just when you thought it's all over, we had our former lovers' Instagram feed to endlessly scroll through. The short film is a weaving together of all of these characters and the resultant emotions and situations (and more) in a lighthearted, humorous manner. While it makes you laugh, it further goes the extra step of using fast-paced, smooth visuals to portray it all. Stylistically, the film earns extra points for its energetic and skilled camerawork and edit, at the same time engaging with concerns of mental health and the manner in which it has come to be tied with our quarantined and confined reality all along.

Backseat | Short Film of the Day

Masala Steps is the story of a couple who has been married for a short while, and have reached a certain
stage where they are facing communication problems. The husband is undergoing a critical
crisis in his professional life which makes him stressed. His loving wife is a homemaker who is dedicated
to uplifting his mood by preparing new dishes for him every day. She sees him acting vexed and worries
for him, but her husband stays aloof. 
The plot may seem run-of-the-mill, but the film’s commitment to the subject draws one’s
attention to introspection of the larger questions involving filmmaking itself. The plot is committed to
accepting the mundane, symbolised by the husband. The mundane is crude, cruel and real. However,
the expectation of the audience is to constantly seek for the extraordinary in the mundane, symbolised
by the concerns of the wife. The romanticisation of even the most ordinary things is what the spectator
desires. The balancing of both drives is at the heart of Masala Steps which, supported by the craft of its
lead actors, makes it a real pull.

Masala Steps | Short Film Nominee

As we get tied up in the responsibilities and the many roles that have to be played in adulthood, we often neglect, and sometimes even choose to forget, a crucial part of our identity - the innocence and lightheartedness of the child within us. It is precisely this spirit of carefreeness that keeps us going even in the most difficult circumstances, ensuring that we never lose perspective. The short film engages with these thoughts to bring to life a narrative with an unexpected course and movement. Yogi, a man in his fifties, one day stumbles across a child who refuses to leave his side. First he asks him for a lift, then he somehow finds his way to our protagonist's home where he enjoys a hearty meal. When the protagonist gets suspicious of his activities, he turns the curious child away from his house with a warning. However, as life would have it, he is still unable to sleep in peace and finds his way back to the same child again. Once he brings him back home, the two spend the night chatting, eating ice cream, until the protagonist eventually falls asleep. When Yogi wakes up in the morning, a revelatory development awaits both him and the viewer, allowing the film its final endeavor to successfully present its intentions to the viewer.

Chhotu | Short Film Nominee

A young professional, Teja, works twenty-four-seven under tremendous stress as an engineer. There is no work-life
balance in his routine. Due to the demands of the job, everyone in his company, including him, consume
anti-stress medication regularly. One day, Teja loses his laptop. He doesn’t remember where he lost it.
Nobody in his office has a back-up of the important documents either, and Teja is in trouble. 
The film is exciting because it’s not a serious drag commentary upon the pressures of a corporate job.
The camaraderie between Teja and his friend, who helps him look for his laptop, offers some comic relief.
But what drives the film is the gullibility of the actor playing Teja. His portrayal of hopelessness is so
endearing, one’s rooting for him even in his silliness.

Anukoledu | Short Film Nominee

When a man and a woman, who are living together, have their realities significantly altered following the Covid-19 pandemic, they find themselves facing important questions about their choices so far. The former has lost his job, and yet he conceals the knowledge from his close friend (which the narrative does not call a live-in partner or girlfriend, but only a best friend). Thus begins an emotional separation between the two. While the woman remains unaware of it, the stress of being unemployed and dealing with financial troubles, soon comes to make its presence felt in his behaviour, which is not missed by her. It is in the resolution of this problem that the two reach an important realization regarding their equation, while also attempting a conversation for the viewer regarding one's approach to life, relationships and mental health.

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