Using a highway as its predominant visual, the film invokes a conversation on family as well as faith. While the emotional elements still have a thematic affinity, tying it with the physical space of a barren heath makes for an interesting choice. A woman is driving in the middle of nowhere when she gets a disconcerting phone call from her worried father. Bad reception ensures that it gets disconnected at the most inopportune moment, leaving the protagonist in complete uncertainty about where things truly stand. The same sense of suffocating duress is conjured by the sight of her, almost non-existent against a massive landscape which threatens to swallow her any moment. The rest of the film then simply becomes a portrayal and echo of the severe stress she has to battle as she endeavours to make it to her destination as soon as possible. It is in this uncertainty that faith makes its presence felt, both literally, by way of a crucifix that is a pivotal car accessory in the scene, as well as metaphorically in the form of an invisible force that keeps the woman going. No easy task to undertake, to display all of these emotions without truly using any exchange of dialogues, the film comes across as an expert attempt. It is only during the final reveal that the viewer is consciously made to realise how deeply involved they had become in the story all along. However, will this realisation come with a sigh of relief or despair?

The Call | Short Film of the Day

In a world where despair often seems to reign free and things appear bleak and despondent, stories about kindness and hope gain a renewed significance. The short film is an endearing and heartwarming example of one such story. An old woman, one day, hears her neighbor talking about a sum of money and how Krishna, a Hindu god worshipped by several Indians, has sent it to her in reply to a letter. Our protagonist thus gets determined to send out a letter of her own, also requesting the god for a small amount of money, to the utmost shock of her neighbor's son who she has roped in to write and post it. The film has an intimate tone throughout, along with a portrayal of the deep devotion towards divinity and the childlike wonder that people often develop in old age. There is further an efficient utilisation of limited resources to tell a simple, but compelling story with a sweet message at its core. Additionally, Dear Lord Krishna, evidently a sincere and dedicated attempt at storytelling, leaves the door open for more projects of the kind by the young filmmaker, Jhanvi Gadhvi.

Dear Lord Krishna | Short Film of the Day

Padmavyuha, also known by its more familiar name chakravyuha, refers to a defence position used in the Indian epic Maharabharata, which draws the opponent in till he is at the centre of the enemy's circle, entirely enclosed without any escape possible. The short film invokes the idea of this military circle at the centre of the mystery it engages with - the disappearance of an American journalist who was working on the SSR, a Hindu extremist organisation. 

Throughout its length, the film brings to the fore several Hindu texts from the Gita to the Vedas, from Manu Smriti to Kama Sutra, in thought, conversation or through visuals, adding texture to the story. Simultaneously, religious extremism is engaged from a vantage point of academics, scholarly pursuit, spirituality and philosophy. The power dynamics of politics and how it comes to control the truth narrative of a society is another important concern of the plot, presented before the viewer while discussing the formation of religion, culture and their eventual contribution to history. 

The plot of the film deals with ideas of faith, both institutional and spiritual, the reason of one's existence, what drives and motivates people, and how all of it comes to mould their entire lives.
A la Robert Langdon, we see our academic protagonist deciphering codes and unearthing deep, dark secrets that can potentially cost him his life. There is mystery, suspense, betrayals and unidentified voices that guide both the protagonist and the viewer down some very treacherous paths. The film is sincere in its effort to share its story. 

 Padmavyuha employs important intellectual pursuits as its subject matter and offers an involving story, marked by its secrecy, and devotion to weave a convincing plot for the audience. It's biggest triumph, however, remains its objectivity, irrespective of the views of the characters. The film is relevant in its approach to thematic concerns that include religion, faith, spirituality, words and ideas which are now becoming increasingly common and significant in regular parlay of contemporary times, but are also marked by sensitivity and an emotional fragility that can prove to be explosive if handled without the right expertise and maturity. It is precisely this skill to interact with the top it had ventured out to dwell upon that becomes the most notable aspect of the narrative, along with its commitment to storytelling.

Padmavyuha | Short Film Nominee

The film invokes a conversation on several things that include loss, grief, familial dynamics and the effect of a tragic event on them, but above all, it is about one's belief in something omniscient. As the title suggests, it becomes a story about how a couple's faith in God, which they may have temporarily found shaken, eventually allows them to get past a deeply saddening incident in their lives. It has been a year to the death of Tori and Derek's son, Trey. The circumstance of his death is not revealed right away, as the narrative takes its time coming into its own. It further attempts an exploration of one's relationship with grief, and the manner in which it can hold power over every single decision of someone's life. However, just when things might seem too bleak with despair threatening to overpower the film, a sense of hope is conjured for the viewer. The overarching message, thus, proves to be about the insurmountable nature of resilience and forbearance, and the inexorable movement of life. Additionally, there is a reminder of how if tragedy has the potential of pushing two people apart, it is also capable of bringing them back together, making their bond stronger than what it ever was.

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links