This year, away from the mainstream films which stuck to cliches and tried and tested formulas, another medium managed to engage the audience. It’s the short films narrating the extraordinary stories of every day people. These films pack in a punch in the short duration. They might lack the glitz and glamour but give voice to the quintessential ‘mango Indian’, highlighting their trials and tribulations through the prism of their mundane life.
Here are the top five short films that made an impact:
Juice
Neeraj Ghaywan’s short film Juice, starring Shefali Shah in the lead, takes a closer look at the gender bias set in the reality of an average Indian home. The setting is too real and repulsive in its familiarity.
Chutney
Two middle-class women’s chai-pakoda session transforms into a dark nightmarish tale in Chutney, a 15-minute short film – the latest from the fold of LargeShortFilms, a YouTube platform. The film, directed by Jyoti Kapur Das, stars Tisca Chopra, almost unrecognisable in a plain get-up, Rasika Dugal and Adil Hussain.
Chhuri
In Chhuri, starring Tisca Chopra plays Meera who knows what her philandering husband has been doing, but instead of confronting him, she makes it clear that she isn’t the dumb one here. She uses the situation to her advantage, and emerges as the one who walks away with a smirk on her face.
Jai Mata Di
Jai Mata Di is a satirical take on life in Mumbai. The story is set around an unmarried couple who is struggling to rent an apartment. It takes a humorous turn when the broker suggests they get a ‘mother’ who will convince the housing society secretary that they are not a couple but are infact siblings.
Death Of A Father
It is the poignant tale of a son who is coming to terms with his father’s death. As he goes through the obligatory rituals, he struggles to find time to mourn the death of his father.
Special mention: The Affair is a slice of Mumbai life short film that portrays a married couple who lives in a cramped apartment with many other family members and barely gets time and space to share an intimate moment.
