The film premises itself on a gripping point. It traces backwards to the story which goes on to
become news headlines, especially in our contemporary reality. The way it shows the transformation of the private, the personal, the domestic and the interior, to the public, the social and the exterior, is telling of the filmmaker’s desire to deal with complex conceptual issues with clarity and confidence. 

The entirety of the drama unfolds within a single argument between two people. Without saying anything beyond the heated conversation, the film successfully manages to capture the fractures of a domestic space and its effects on the rest of the family members. 

The manner the noise and the silences are contrasted in the narrative is the most outstanding part of the film. Additionally, though the social message that it wishes to give is urgent, the sense of desperation doesn’t clog up its progression. A seemingly single-shot endeavour, marked by the deliberate intimacy brought in with hand-held visuals, Batmi is a seamlessly
achieved final result, made complete by its powerful, convincing performances.

Batmi | Short Film of the Day

The deep infestation of technology and the extremely destructive pitfalls of the same form the narrative of the film. Society’s extreme dependence on smartphones and the internet, and the myriad ways it has left them enslaved without their realization is critiqued by the film in the most earnest manner. Visual treatment with edits and stylistically fitting music choices further support the endeavor. The story comprises two main characters Dharma and Piyu, and the most heartbreaking tragedy that is intertwined in this love story. 

The film is located in Ahmedabad where the city is targetted by an unknown man, the eponymous Drohin. While introducing the viewer to all of these aspects, the film presents an origin story, a first step, and a self-professed prelude to a longer story, leaving the door open with the promise of subsequent parts.

Drohin: Aarambh | Short Film Nominee

‘Afterbirth’ offers a narrative that ties history and politics with poetry and domesticity. The path to realize these thematic concerns is weaved with care as the film captures a tumultuous moment of public strife, one that also reflects the emotional and mental strife of two people unable to find fulfilment in this world, and yet seeking it relentlessly. 

Through Tani and Nator, the film not only presents its philosophical preoccupations, but further questions the traditional nature of marriage and the restrictive norms it often entails. In Tani, we see an intelligent woman who is unhesitant in asserting her views and desires, even if it sometimes means calling out the escapism and denial of a man she is deeply in love with despite, and perhaps, even because of it. 

The film deftly employs soft, diffused visuals, invoking an otherworldliness, even if showing a want of slightly more control, to bring its reality to life. The portrayal of its characters and the storytelling remain noteworthy elements, along with writing being a standout characteristic, ensuring that you stay with the plot and its many layers right till the very end.

Afterbirth | Short Film Nominee

Right from the beginning, the narrative comes across as being deeply unsettling, without giving any explicit reason for it, thereby making it all the more involving. It progresses to eventually reveal a harsh reality of verbal abuse that a boy is subjected to by presumably his father. By simply portraying this situation, the film draws to attention the issue of mental health among Indian students. Further, the lockdown that followed the coronavirus pandemic, exacerbated these pressures and stressors even more, suggests the plot. At the heart of the film is a reminder of the absolute importance of communication between parents, guardians and society on the whole, and how students might find themselves turning to the cruel voices inside if not allowed this channel. It is the expression of this concern that becomes the most notable aspect of the film.

Talk | Short Film of the Day

The title will tell you that the film most likely revolves around mental health awareness. However,
barring the jaded first scene, the film makes quite interesting, subtle reflections on how pervasive the
impacts of anxiety can be. For instance, the very first dialogue talks about racing heartbeats. Kabir, the
protagonist immediately clarifies to the viewer that these heartbeats are not an outcome of fear but
brought out by a rare bout of excitement. This is an extremely detailed insight. Someone dealing with
anxiety will profess how accurate this sensation is. Anxiety keeps one’s body hostage in a flight or fight
mode so often that when a moment of positive excitement comes, it feels impossible to distinguish. 
It is difficult to say with authority how consciously and thoughtfully the filmmaker created this reference,
but what’s promising is that he sticks with it. The paralysing effects of everyday anxiety that push one
towards pursuing extreme perfectionism, which deprives you of even the simplest of moment of peace
or relaxation are emphasised continually through subtle references. Kabir is listening to rock music, but
thinking of EMIs, his friend congratulates him on getting the job but he is still reeling with self-doubt. 
When the news of the lockdown is announced, Kabir’s friend, immediately calls him to check up on him
and asks him to “not panic.” One again, to survivors of anxiety, this is a resounding reference. 
The writing is crisp, and on-point, and so is the acting. Impressive.

Vikalp | Short Film Nominee

The film is marked by its skilled and sophisticated visuals, aptly conveying the sombre mood of the narrative right from the start. However, as the protagonist finds himself sinking deeper and deeper into despair with little to pull him back, an unexpected turn of events await him. By allowing a voice to all the inanimate objects in his life, the film achieves a moment of light in this black and white world. As stories and memories from the protagonist's life begin to metaphorically flow into the screen, a reality far from this grim world of dejection and defeat is invoked. In the process, the plot, as the title suggests, becomes an engagement with the sentiment of hope, or the lack of it, at different stages of life, and offers a portrayal of how powerful both its absence and presence can be.

Hope | Short Film of the Day

The film is essentially a social commentary on a less talked about, but more than equally compelling issue. The manner of its approach, however, aims more at involving the viewer in the plight of the protagonist. This, in turn, enables it to tell an impactful story. 

The film is about a man who finds it increasingly difficult to hold on to a job, and therefore, he fails at bringing home a stable income. This leads to the breakdown of his marriage, as well as lack of proper resources required for raising his younger brother who lives with disability. The origin as well as the catalyst in all his problems remains drug abuse, further echoing the metaphor offered in the title, portraying how a human's existence is reduced to that of a stray animal. 

The narrative that is weaved is quiet, sharing all its intentions in a soft, sustained manner. The rough edges are few, and despite them, the film steers clear of sentimentalism, and eventually manages to present an engaging story to the viewer.

Stray Dogs | Short Film Nominee

‘Pechu’ is an important story, especially relevant in a pandemic-ridden and technology obsessed world where isolation and loneliness gain even more staggering proportions. A man is about to take his life by suicide. He stands on the precipice of a building when his attempt is foiled by a very unlikely visitor - a drunken man. 
It is revealed he too has come to this desolate rooftop for the same act, and a conversation ensues between the two. Through the stories and experiences that they exchange, the film offers its message about a very important, but often ignored, concern of mental health, with its writing as a crucial tool in achieving this.

Pechu | Short Film Nominee

The short film opens on a note where a man is precariously balancing himself on the railing of a terrace, saying his apologies to the world, clearly about to jump. Now, owing to the title of the film, the viewer can perhaps assume at first glance that this is probably a set-up for a shoot, and that the character is not truly about to take his life. However, this misconception is soon dispelled by the narrative, and a far darker reality is revealed. 

By invoking the story of a man on the brink of suicide and who has called his friend over to record his final goodbyes on camera, the film brings to attention the dark underbelly of the world of fashion, cinema and entertainment. These realms are marked by their exploitation and abuse, both sexual and mental, of desperate young professionals. It is interesting that the film chooses a male protagonist to share his story, reminding the viewer that this form of oppression is not limited to a particular gender. 

The film simply wants to offer a comment on the extent of damage they can have on a person's psyche, while also roping in a reminder for the audience about the importance of mental health and why encouraging conversation on the topic is of utmost importance.

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