Short films are no more the “calling card” of young filmmakers with potential. The category has evolved in India and you see a flurry of anthologies on the OTT platforms. Short films are used to convey a strong emotion to the audience. Whether it is anger, sadness or laughter, such emotions do not give the audiences time to think about the film or make their minds up. There will always be a strong connection with the characters in the film, as they are focused throughout.
A friend asked me about this film called #Pinni featuring #NeenaGupta and that led me to a seven short film anthology that has some delightful moments.
ASHOK’s FIVE reviews #ZIndagiinShort featured on #NetflixIndia. This is an interesting mix of films, some novel, some staid and at least two that will leave you chuckling.
First up there is #NeenaGupta in a powerful performance in #Pinni. She is an elderly neglected woman loved for her laddoo making skills by her family and relatives. But is she? In a moment of epiphany, she lets her feminism burst out with fury. The film is directed by #TahiraKashyap, wife of #AyushmanKhurrana and has its moments , although does seem in awe of the halo of the leading actor.
#DivyaDutta plays a woman who gets back at her callous husband (#SanjayKapoor) and even goes to bed with another man to get back. Dutta puts in a powerful performance but this one is perhaps a little over-the-top male bashing. This one is directed by #PunarvasuNaik.
#RimaKallingal plays an overworked doctor in a cancer hospital who gets a lesson in slowing down and looking at life from a different lens in #SunnySideup directed by #VijayataKumar.
#RakeshSain’s #NanoSoPhobia has #SwaroopSampat playing a woman suffering from dementia. Poor direction and a terrible Parsi accent apart, the problem perhaps is that there is not enough time to dwell upon the loneliness and melancholy of old-age. The clever surprise at the end is perhaps what justifies the build-up.
#ChajjukeDahiBhalle is an interesting one on modern day digital dating with #ManjyotSingh and #AyeshaAhmed trying to meet up for a date. #GautamGovindSharma directs this one with a proverbial twist in the tail.
#DeepakDobriyal shines in #Swahaa directed by #SmrutikaPanigrahi. This short has him playing a suspicious husband tailing his pretty wife (#IshaTalwar) at a marriage party and everything goes haywire.
My favourite one is #Thappad, shot in country western style. This features a little boy Bablu (#ShafinPatel) who is obsessed with comic book heroes and is out to protect his elder sister from roadside romeos. #VinayChhawal directs this gem of a short. The film cleverly potrays the story from the lens of Bablu and his antagonists are only represented by their limbs and voice. Dont miss this one!
#ZindagiinShort has dropped on to #Netflix without much fuss and has not storred up too much conversation on the social circuits. It is a diverse mix of stories and worth a watch. Like I said, Short Films have evolved and how!
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