The world of ‘Incognito’ is squalid and defined by seedy endeavors involving non-consensual porn and trafficking. A receptionist at a hotel has installed secret cameras in a room and the adjoining bathroom to capture intimate acts of couples. These videos are then uploaded on porn sites by him. However, this secret trade one day leads him to the unearthing of deeply troubling truths from which there is no looking away. As he gets involved deeper and deeper into the schemes of a pimp and his exploits pertaining to a woman, a far terrible reality awaits him. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/r9vFSHVl.png"/> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/E7grvxkl.png"/> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/jRbk3FMl.png"/> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/mGyBXAfl.png"/> The film employs economy of dialogue, allowing much of the drama to unfold simply by way of visuals. There is further efficient use of the same physical space to achieve it all. At the film's conclusion rests a swift unraveling of events, and deliberate arbitrariness in the manner in which the subsequent pieces fall. What it would mean for the fate of the characters thus becomes an interesting question that the narrative attempts to answer at the end of it all.

Incognito  | Short Film of the Month

A man is lazing in his room, watching something on a laptop, when he is interrupted by two disgruntled, indifferent cops. They have arrived at his doorstep looking for his missing girlfriend, Akshaya. However, because she has been off the grid for barely a day, both cops are sure she will eventually turn up at one of her friends’ house. With the case at hand taken care of, they decide to allow themselves a moment to unwind which is then spent in complaining about their job, colleagues and seniors. The film has a remarkable approach to storytelling. The manner in which it blurs genres, from dramedy to thriller, is also notable. Additionally, a theatrical quality is applied to its visuals to further bring the story to life, while confining them to the fixed space of a single room. All of these elements together lead to a successful execution of the plot and narrative.

The Dude and the White Rose | Short Film of the Day

The film is an unexpected, enjoyable and interesting union of lightheartedness, chirpiness, and something potentially disconcerting. Our first glimpse into its world is by way of a taxi ride that a man is part of. Even though we don't see a female presence next to him, we are soon told that a woman’s voice never leaves him alone. 

Instructing him with bizarre ideas, resulting in even more absurd situations, sometimes at his own expense, and sometimes at the expense of those around him, she is Rudy's constant companion. Her voice soon becomes a lovely metaphor for perhaps any inhibitions or limitations that might exist in the viewer’s mind as well, keeping them from being all that they can be, or doing all that they want to, be it socializing or feeling comfortable in their own skin and bodies. 

The film does a notable job of presenting all of these ideas to you without making itself overbearing or overwhelming. Its colors remain deliberately effervescent and fun, with the tone and approach matching the overall final result.

Thank You for Sharing | Short Film of the Day

The film builds itself around Pawan and Gunja’s love story. The opening scene establishes the intimacy and affection the two share. However, soon a reality unfolds which is in direct contrast to the romance conjured so far. 

Gunja is trapped in a loveless marriage where she has had little to no say in her decisions right from the beginning. Pawan, on the other hand, struggles to create a life where he can attain union with his beloved. The film, thus develops to not only give a glimpse into their love story but also ropes in unexpected and completely shocking moments of thrill, violence, and things going terribly awry. 

The chemistry of the actors, which constitute this fateful love triangle, brings to life skilled performances, that bolster the narrative markedly. The choice of the background score and original soundtrack also evidence investment of thought, and competitiveness, all of which together ensure that the final result is an engaging ride that will keep the viewer involved right till the end.

Jaan-e-Jahaan | Short Film of the Day

‘Gandhi Virus’ presents a most intriguing world to the viewer, constructed with thoughtfulness and care to ensure the plot is communicated to the viewer with conviction and lucidity. 

A man, the protagonist, is desperate and very disturbed on a phone call to his mother. His uncontrollable sobbing gives way to the events of only a few minutes ago. The film thus presents a dystopic reality where a bizarre virus has humankind in its tight hold. 

 The virus makes its host kind and non-violent. On paper, the proposition sounds nothing short of utopia, but its consequences are far from that, as the narrative continues to portray, ensuring that its storytelling remains a marked strength. Additionally, the film keeps the audience engaged throughout, concluding with the emphatic communication of all of these ideas.

Gandhi Virus | Short Film Nominee

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 of the Day

The film preoccupies itself with the idea of beauty, and how it can become an empowering and as well as overwhelming force in the lives of different people. The same is portrayed by giving the viewer a glimpse into the lives of three women - a mother-daughter duo, and their domestic help. A mirror, both with and without its cracks, stands as a crucial image in this portrayal. If for one woman it is nearly shattered, for another it’s completely unscathed, while for a third it has much fewer cracks. 
The three images are contrasted against one another to further pronounce the thematic concerns. When we go deeper into this troubled mother-daughter equation, a face mask becomes a portent of what is to come. The help presents another colorful and unique break from the simmering tension, roping in both colors and music. 
As a mother forces her oppressive views towards herself on her daughter, the young woman, though at the zenith of her youth, finds herself crippled by it all. The aging domestic help, on the other hand, is an unstoppable force when it comes to enjoying articles of adornment and finding a general verve of life. The narrative ties all of these components in a manner that not only offers a crucial comment on beauty and abuse but also exhibits an interesting vision, and a unique approach to storytelling; an approach that leaves one with the welcome prospect of more such fictional explorations in subsequent endeavors.

Avalde Ammede Arimavu | Short Film Nominee

The film offers a very involving, skilled narrative that presents its many developments at a gradual, organic pace. The story is constructed with care, ensuring it remains imbued with thrill as well as a shocking progression of events in the most unexpected manner. 

However, the world it conjures to share all of this with the viewer, at first glance, is far from it. It’s simply a conversation between two sisters until one realizes that the space is rife with resentment, bitterness, and a constant threat of violence. 

Anu has walked out on her relationship in the middle of the night, asking her sister to come pick her up. Even in the face of the darkness of an empty, lonely corner of a street, or gawking strangers, or a little-too-inquisitive cops, she is undaunted. The same resilience is present in her elder sister as well. When these elements and characteristics are tied together neatly at the film’s conclusion, supplemented by the chemistry, and notable performances of the two actors, they present a story of far darker occurrences than the viewer might have expected at the beginning.

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