'Randara (Or a Tale of Depraved Scoundrels)' is an eccentric, unpredictable ride that takes us into the life of four men. What starts off with a suggestion of a buddy film, complete with humor, misadventures and colorful characters, soon begins to give way to a more complex plot that is defined by theft, a struggle to survive and a threat of violence never truly leaving the narrative. 
The story is weaved in a manner that holds your attention throughout, further ensuring that you are equally invested in the fate of all the four characters. Consequently, by the time the conclusion fully develops, you are unsure who to route for and who to abandon in their pursuit. Though a few errant shots make it to the final result, the film remains an entertaining watch which, without weighing itself down, brings to life storytelling and performances marked by their notable gravity.

Randara | Short Film Nominee

Crime, love gone sour, mythology, and a battle between demons and gods, all form integral parts of this carefully woven film. The narrative, though mainly confined to a single night and the seediness of its shadows, moves back and forth in time to construct the story of primarily three characters - a police officer, a disgruntled lover, and a man who is overwhelmed with financial tribulations. 

Adding to the intrigue is a fourth character, a woman, Mhalsa, who will come to alter the course of the narrative in an irrevocable, lasting manner. She enters the plot at a crucial juncture with a past that connects her to more than one man, a topic of intense discussion by all the men who surround her. 

The cop regales a nervous waiter with a mythological story that will present the most crucial metaphors of the film, ideas of right and wrong, and how more often than not they get reduced to a grey realm of blurred boundaries. A little distance away from him two friends await their third companion who arrives with a disturbing tale of his own. The two parties remain completely oblivious to the third where the man shares his woes with a confidant. 

Notwithstanding a few rough edges in terms of production, particularly in the department of sound, there is a smoothness with which all of these elements are eventually connected. The duration of the film allows it to spend enough time on each subset of the plot without losing pace. The writing becomes a notable aspect of the film, followed by the edit and performances, all of which together give rise to an engaging end result that displays sincerity and investment of thought.

Neelakanta Bar | Short Film Nominee

The film weaves a lovely story about storytelling itself, while also offering a subtle comment on society. All the while foregrounding itself against the innocence of childhood, and the honest, sincere questions that it can raise, the plot comes into its own. It takes us to a village where a teacher is deeply fond of sharing stories with his pupils. Consequently, enraptured in his stories, they often neglect the clock even when it is time to go home. However, one day, a few questions catch our protagonist off-guard, leaving him at a loss of not only an answer that would satisfy the eager faces before him, but also struggling to tell any more stories. Finding his way to a library in a nearby town, he instead stumbles across the most unexpected series of events, roping in an attempted theft and the most unlikely person who is responsible for it. In the process, it is not the library, but life itself which leads our endearing, well-meaning protagonist to the perfect story to share with his students. The film is a devoted attempt to present its intentions to the viewer, but it could have gained from some fine-tuning in its sound and dubbing department. On the whole, it remains an entertaining, well-intentioned final product, ensuring that the viewer is involved with the protagonist and his experiences till the very end.

Motorcycle Thief | Short Film Nominee

The short film is one of the many episodes of a series called Love Handles by Gorilla Shorts. Each episode looks at a different love story and adopts a unique approach in constructing the narrative. This particular short film is about two kleptomaniacs and how they fall in love while trying to one-up each other in theft. When it comes to treatment, the film does not offer anything fresh and often gives in to corniness. The two actors, however, do full justice to their parts, and an effortless chemistry further adds to it. The film as a product fails to come together and does not go beyond being a regular romance that will not particularly enrich your viewing experience.

Chori Chori Pyaar | Short Film of the Day

Three men escape a scene of theft, with the cops hot on their trail. However, they soon overcome the circumstance and move forth to the next stage of their job. A world of crime and action is conjured for the viewer, as we get introduced to Akhand, Billi and Charlie. Along with the grunginess that the narrative endeavors to invoke, we are also presented with a story of betrayal, doublecrossing and violence. 
Loyalties are tested in this universe as greed and survival become intertwined. Though the film could gain from a tighter control on its visuals, and therefore, the overall production value, it leaves the viewer with storytelling and narrative building that exhibit deep potential.

Chir | Short Film Nominee

As the title suggests, a woman's battle with sleeplessness drives and molds the predominant action in the film. While it may have opened on a note of darkness, the tone is eventually headed towards an emotion far from that. 

The protagonist has finally procured herself a bottle of sleeping pills, while a man in a black mask continues to move stealthily in the background. The manner in which these two narratives find overlaps with each other eventually defines the plot to lead it home. The storytelling reveals the desire to engage and entertain the viewer, and the film, thus, should be approached with the same perspective.

Insomnia | Short Film Nominee

With its interesting choice of camera angles and visuals, the short film portrays a chase sequence for the viewer to participate in vicariously. The entire narrative is weaved using only two characters, a petty pickpocket and the owner of a wallet. As the two display their parkour-inspired antics, the story follows the path set out for itself. The film is an honest effort, but would have perhaps benefited from a more seamless sound edit. Overall, it is lighthearted, effervescent and entertaining in its crispness.

Wallet | Short Film Nominee

A group of men plan a theft - of a figurine, a painting and a book called Vivartha, if they are able to procure it. The plan is set for success, with the building and the specific house being mostly empty save for a man, the only inhabitant who is completely bed-ridden due to paralysis. 
The robbers are confident of their actions which is why when things begin going downhill, it takes them more than a while to realize that something is terribly wrong with their surroundings. The cost at which this realization comes is too high and irrevocable for all of them. The story is marked by a sincere attempt to invoke horror and thrill, even if it means the characters have to go down a path of no return.

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