This short film, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and directed by Nandita Das, works as the perfect prelude to the full-length feature film Manto soon to make an appearance on the silver screen. Nawazuddin is as convincing as Manto in the film as he has been in all of his prior roles. The film is a deep and insightful commentary on society which attempts to hide its vulgarities and inherent contradictions by attacking the artist who simply holds a mirror to it. It's not the art which is ugly, but the reflection of the critic who attacks the former with misguided rage. If nothing at all, In Defence of Freedom, handled extremely elegantly by Das, simply succeeds in compelling the viewer to start a conversation with the self and its location in society.

In Defence Of Freedom | Short Film of the Day

The film presents a story of harassment and stalking, but does so with uniqueness in storytelling. The freshness in its approach ensures that the viewer is glued to the narrative right till the very end, as the protagonist, Megh, takes them deeper and deeper into his world. 

Megh is a writer who, one night, stumbles upon a strange man with a strange query. The film moves back and forth in time as Megh recounts his ordeal to three other characters, each with their own approach to the encounters he describes. 

The film’s biggest strength is what it achieves at the level of thought. It presents a fluidity of roles, and that they can be quite different for the same person depending on the context they are placed in. The story further presents the internal journey that the protagonist goes on as a result of this harrowing experience, and what all of it entails for his identity as a writer. 

The title is explored and engaged with, alongside the life of a city which can sometimes be as forgiving as Mumbai. There is an interaction with the ideas of justice as well. Though there is a slight lack of seamlessness when it comes to the film’s sound department, it is easy to overlook it in the face of the performances, writing, and narratorial progression that the film offers. The ideas thus presented are seeds of thoughts that should definitely be allowed to grow in more projects.

Out of Context | Short Film of the Month

The movie, marked by its single member cast and crew, is a dedicated and sincere attempt to tell its story. A man wakes up from a disturbing nightmare which he chooses to turn around into a writing project. While engaging with his endeavours, there is indeed a darker, more unexpected reality to be discovered by him. Would he be prepared when it finally arrives?

My Dream Story | Lockdown Film Challenge

Operating entirely within the ambit of abstraction, the short film keeps itself confined to the physical space of a room. Blank sheets and pens to write with are in abundance before the protagonist, and yet, he is unable to come up with even a single word. Have all pens dried up? Is there something wrong with the sheets of paper? Or is he simply distracted too easily, much to his own anger and frustration? The narrative, devoid of any dialogue, raises all of these questions. It finally concludes with the thought that perhaps all of the protagonist's energies are invested in replicating that one scribble he had achieved a long time ago. Unable to do so, he is constantly distracted, flustered and left with the inability to create any further. However, this is only one interpretation of the events unfolding before you. The film leaves the door open for more, depending on the viewer's desire and inclination.

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