The fact that this short film was made in fifty hours as part of a filmmaking contest deserves special mention. Add to it an experimental, almost dreamlike treatment by Aditya Sharma and Parallax succeeds at disconcerting the viewer with its portrayal of abusive relationships and violence against women. A strong performance by Deeksha Joshi is another aspect that earns appreciation. The film applies the parallax effect to the visuals to bring to life a narrative that emphasises its theme 'Everything is Connected'. As women continue to navigate their presence in public spaces and at home, Parallax becomes a skilled and relevant take on gender, consent and sexual violence.

Parallax | Short Film of the Day

A wonderful short film by Girliyapa, Kanika is a poignant take on a type of crime most prevalent in India. The narrative builds up gradually, taking its time, yet keeping the viewer glued all along. As it progresses, you realise that, in the most disturbing manner, it's far from what you expected. What starts off as a romantic story of two seemingly star-crossed lovers soon takes a disconcertingly dark turn at the climax. The film's production quality and the mature handling of a very intense subject deserve a special mention. Also backed by skilled cinematography and a strong voiceover, Kanika will definitely stay with you long after you've watched it.

Kanika | Short Film of the Day

Gender as a discourse is endlessly layered and nuanced, demanding a constant engagement with its several aspects. The short film is a skilled endeavour to interact with one of these countless threads. By taking the viewer into the problematic thoughts of its protagonist, the film initiates a relevant conversation about identifying, accepting and addressing the problem within. All actions stem from thought, which thereby becomes the first point of correction and amendment. This is the message the film communicates and accentuates through its character of a writer who sits at his desk, indulging himself in imagined situations with the women that surround him. Further, an interplay with ideas of guilt, acceptance, forgiveness and growth is invoked, suggesting that it is only human to find yourself going astray sometimes. However, it is the desire and inclination to check oneself in time that is the most relevant and important concern in furthering the cause of gender equality and ending harassment and discrimination intrinsic to its contemporary dynamics.

#Itoo | Short Film of the Day

More often than not, sexual abuse meted out to a woman is by someone close to them, worse still, a family member. Women, on the other hand, are conditioned to prefer the road of meekness and silence, lest they bring any shame to the family name or themselves. The short film uses the same concern as its premise to tell the story of a young woman trying to make a life for herself in an alien city. The plot attempts a notable engagement with its subject matter to present to the viewer a narrative of harassment, abuse and finally finding the courage within oneself to one day put a stop to oppression and cruelty. The film is expertly calm in its execution and portrayal. Furthermore, a strong performance by Tanya Gulati as the protagonist translates into a beautiful vulnerability on screen.

Diya | Short Film of the Day

With a powerful voiceover by Shishir Sharma, this short film invokes a very important concern, especially relevant in a country like India. A child conveys a disturbing truth to his parents using something as innocent as dumb charades. While the family is portrayed to be a loving one, with convincing performances by Vivek Madaan, Pooja Verma and Mohit Parmar, the child had still not been able to communicate his secret. The film goes to show how important it is for parents to have a dialogue and an open channel of communication with their children, and thus becomes an important lesson in parenting in the process.

Dumb Charades | Short Film of the Day

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.

Debut | Short Film Nominee

The film offers a very unabashed, direct glimpse into the extremely patriarchal world women inhabit, and the subsequent sexism they have to deal with on a daily basis. It presents the many statements that are made in the context of women’s safety, and then goes ahead to display the absurdity of it all. 

The ensuing narrative questions the location of men in a society that refuses to hold them accountable, simply putting all checks and balances on women, instead of looking for corrective measures for the problem itself. The characters played by the various actors are convincing, and even though the narrative is direct and simple, not venturing into the space of nuance and grey territories, it achieves precisely what it has set out to do - raise awareness and draw attention to a compelling issue.

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