The short film offers romance and a potential love story in the most unexpected ways. The manner it adopts for the execution of its story is unexpected, unpredictable and perhaps even the stuff of (albeit borderline twisted) dreams. The colours are intense and the visuals overflowing with a passion you might find difficult to pin down a particular character or event in the film. A reticent delivery man carries takeaways to doorsteps of unusual customers who refuse to pay him his due. He lets this bitterness find a voice in the fortune cookie messages he writes for them. Amidst all the humour and eccentricities of this narrative, this becomes a surprisingly humane touch to the character as well as the film. From ones of kindness and comfort, to those of absolute dismissal and anger, the messages cover the full spectrum. One night, however, a woman with a bloodied bandage over an eye and a story of an experience as disorienting as her appearance, finds her way to the restaurant the protagonist works at. The whole film has been moving towards this, and when it finally arrives, it is that one promised moment of comfort in this surreal narrative of dark colours, seedy characters and intriguing images.

King Wah (I Think I Love You) | Short Film of the Day

The autobiographical documentary, a fairly loose category to define everything that the film offers, introduces us to Jem and Anna, and their relationship which ended seven years before the film begins to explore it. 

It is when the two decide to make a film on their shared past, nearly a decade after it seemingly concluded, that 'Baby Grand' begins to stretch its limbs, eventually presenting to you a story about memory, creative reconstruction, past, intimacies, vulnerabilities and how none of these can ever operate within absolutes, always bleeding, merging, and blending into one another. 


Consequently, more than definite points, the film becomes a product that is marked by its blurred lines, overlapping boundaries of reality, art, emotions and relationships. Without ever realizing, the viewer is invested in the outcome of this relationship, in the eventual fate of the (former?) lovers. At some point, the cameras and the lights disappear, and you are simply part of a very personal conversation, perhaps even eavesdropping. The film says, “When you recreate memories, you end up recreating feelings too”. It is indeed in this recreation that much of the film’s underpinnings come to take a distinct form. 



The characters, remarkable in their own right, are two disparate personalities. The quirkiness and eccentricities of one being offset by the reclusive, quiet body language of another. It is evident how at one point they could have been drawn to each other, and how at another, pushed each other away. 'Baby Grand', thus, becomes a love letter to their former selves, to a relationship that is lost, but not forgotten. It is precisely in this manner that the film ensures that though the relationship in itself is not constituted by anything supremely unique, it’s portrayal and storytelling stays with you long after you are done watching the film.

Baby Grand | Short Film of the Month

The narrative introduces us to two lovers and a realm marked by separation, intimacy, and unmistakable vulnerability that ties it all together. The film and its namesake music album take audiences on a meaningful journey that is mapped and crafted with thoughtfulness and meticulous care. 

The several tracks taken from the same album conjure metaphors of love, relationships, heartbreak, acceptance, and loss. These are coupled with an intrinsic presence of nature, of thunder and lightning, of the vast expanses of the sea and the sky to further echo everything the narrative intends to convey. The rhythm of the music is tied to the emotional ups and downs of the protagonist, alongside being located within nature's many moods and hues, as if nature itself is the third character present alongside the lovers. 

The camerawork and the visuals it paints are equally and competently supported by the vocals that become an overarching, defining element of the film. The screenplay and the visual grammar employed are stunning not simply in terms of aesthetics but also the emotions they evoke. Consequently, the final result becomes a seamless union of skill and thought, with a deep authenticity of emotion and its expression.

What You Do Alone | Short Film of the Month

At first glance, it is easy to choose comedy as a suitable category for the film since humour does come across as an overarching entity in the narrative. However, give it a few more moments, and you soon realise the folly. It is a romance, yes, but one which is surreal in nature, it is embellished with mystery, intrigue, foreboding, echoes of fantasy and an experimental approach to share its story. The biggest success of Tots N' Pots lies in managing to intertwine all of these elements in a seamless manner. The effortlessness of the plot is further enhanced by an appropriate choice of actors that bring their performance to the screen with notable ease, ensuring that the viewer has no other choice, but to be fully convinced of their reality and emotions. Another noteworthy aspect is, of course, the story. Two lovers are fellow ceramicists at a facility where they find themselves being pulled in opposite direction by their seniors. Their contrasting approach to the course of event comes to voice the apprehension of the viewer as well. However, while they may be navigating the uncertainty of their career and relationship, what will their fate truly be?

Pots N' Tots | Short Film of the Day

Romantic and marital relationships inarguably formed a crucial aspect of the many new realities that we struggled with during the 2020 pandemic. The short film explores one such equation while employing a tonality that uses both humor and seriousness in equal measure. The story, in the process, becomes the most notable aspect of the film, alongside the intention to explore the dynamic of a couple in all its subtleties and nuances. 
 
Nancy and Nikhil both battle their respective overwhelming work schedules, alongside raising two little girls. Consequently, the house is often left in a chaotic state of disarray. Much of the burden of sorting it falls on Nancy’s shoulders simply as a result of how gender roles often implicitly end up being defined in a marriage.
Despite his best intentions and dedicated efforts, Nikhil is unable to show up for Nancy in the way she requires. This, in turn, affects the romantic and sexual intimacy between the two. 
The storytelling does an earnest job of portraying how the two navigate the complexities that constitute this reality, while never allowing itself to be overburdened by emotional intensity, and instead, forever allowing humor to undercut the conjured tension. As for our two characters, they have a deeply meaningful realization awaiting them about the significance of small acts and a little more empathy toward one another.

Tiny Joy | Short Film of the Month

The night is set for Carter’s second date when things begin to devolve into absolute chaos. As he prepares for her arrival, the doorbell announces a very different and unexpected guest - a hallucination. This hallucination of Carter's date is soon joined by his friends, an ex lover and even the neighborhood homeless guy. 

The film does not miss a single beat in developing action and maintaining the fast, seamless flowing movement of all the events. While our protagonist finds himself at the heart of a situation spiralling clearly and completely out of his control, the viewer is allowed to share his anxiety. Supported notably by all of the characters, the film further maintains a colorful, engaging progression of the narrative. 

‘Pizza for Carter’ is relatable because who are we lying to when we say we haven’t carried the burden of half a dozen people, and their expectations, when going for an important rendezvous, romantic or otherwise? The film simply takes a step further to paint a very literal version of this reality. It is endearing, and presents a lovely union of humor and tension that is sure to keep you with it right till the very end.

Pizza For Carter  | Short Film of the Month

‘Mirage’ is a skilfully executed film, free-flowing and effortless in the visual progression of the events. The story talks of love, intimacy, betrayal, and infidelity. However, the most important of all the entities on the emotional spectrum of the film is nostalgia, something that acquires a substantial presence within the narrative in the form of a drug that allows you to revisit the joys of the past when you take it. 

Adam and Loli navigate the many complexities of their relationship which seems on the brink of collapse, and the film comes into being. The performances and screenplay support it notably, presenting a young filmmaking voice with immense promise. 

Addiction, memory, intimacy, and the fallout of deep love turning into deep hurt all unite as one in this endeavor which remains heartfelt throughout. The question that remains central to the narrative, however, is — can drowning yourself in the thought of what once was, save you from the consequences of your actions in the swiftly unraveling present?

Mirage | Short Film of the Day

Nicholas is a man who spends most of his time with his many gadgets. From VR games to smartphones to recording videos for the internet - his days are completely consumed by the many contraptions of technology, and related activities. However, he does indeed seek a connection with another person. Loneliness and the desire for love quietly nestle themselves within the plot. 

Once again, Nicholas turns to technology to solve this problem, signing up for a dating app that will set him up with a potential partner based on a questionnaire he is soon presented with. Humor is woven into the narrative with the absolute contrast between the life Nicholas leads and the one he pretends to lead when faced with these questions. 

In the process, a lighthearted story comes into being, sometimes a little endearing, sometimes heartwarming as Nicholas heads out to meet his date. A crucial message of the film, one about the absolute significance of connections in our lives, is thus presented through what unfolds next. The resultant screenplay, performances, and plot development keep the viewer engaged all along. It would be interesting to develop the film as a longer project in the future, allowing its ideas and intentions better elucidation.

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