Film Review: Short Films By bLOGiMLY

Short films usually have a deep underlying message attached to them — social, political or religious.  They also come with baggage — that of finance, distribution and exhibition constraints although their ultimate aim is to be screened at Film Festivals. All three shorts, screened on Sunday 27th November by aspiring filmmaker Nozzer Pardiwala, have a missive and a social commentary. First time actors all, it’s a sincere and commendable effort.

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DHUND: WORLDS APART (6 min)

Cast: Shahen Pardiwala, Surbhi Sharma, Kashmira Kapadia.

The three protagonists, to all appearances, are linked.  On closer scrutiny, however, there’s an apparent disconnect among them.  The message is clear — in today’s hurried pace, social mores notwithstanding, one has one’s encumbrances to tend. A more deft intercutting of frames would have heightened the interest and helped spread the message.

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RIGMAROLE (13 min)

Cast: Shahen Pardiwala, Chetnaa Mehrotra, Mohammed Khan.

Easily the best of the three, although the title is a misnomer. It epitomises a social problem — marital discord and oppression leading to its ultimate step, suicide.  A housewife, whose marriage is tottering, is on the verge of suicide, when a teenager, by his sharp reflexes, artfully weans her away from it, even as ‘Lambi raatein, khamosh aahein’ sung and composed by Mohammed Khan plays in the background.

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THAT DAY (20 min)

Cast: Shahen Pardiwala, Rupal Rawal, Hasmukh Rawal.

Familial disharmony and a sense of guilt are portrayed in this short film. ‘Life is like a carrom-board – you get jostled all around’ says the central character before succumbing to life’s pressures and ‘the most painful goodbyes’ take over.