Reduva, a pidgin term for radio, is a short film set in a rural Haryana. Written and produced by Pankaj Rathee, the film tells the story of an old man trying to live his post-retirement days in peace and remembrance of his late wife. His constant pursuit of peace is disrupted time and again by none other than his own son. 

Plot: Radio

Directed by Vipin Malawat, Reduva opens with a scene of a wedding ritual followed by the old man, then young, receiving a gift from his wife, a radio. The film shifts to the present, where the old man is listening to the same song from his wedding night on the radio – a gift from his wife. He is seen to be having fun listening to music, playing with a street pup, and feeding him some food. 

However, this personal moment is soon disrupted by a harsh comment from his daughter-in-law pointing at the struggling economic conditions of the family. While he is still processing this, he gets to know another infuriating news of his son getting in trouble. The film shifts to the introduction of the son. He is getting his injured forehead treated by the local village doctor. The doctor advises the old man to put the son into a rehabilitation center to fix his alcohol addiction. 

The old man is constantly found listening to the radio, the particular song from his wedding night in particular in the quiet. He is out of money and waiting to receive his pension amount. He is not able to get the local cigarettes for credit. Moreover, the daughter-in-law refuses to feed him lunch because she wants more share of the pension to run the house. When the daughter-in-law complains about her struggling financial situation to her husband, she is found to be a victim of domestic abuse. The son represents most of the violence and trouble in the film. He even proceeds to fight with his father and break the radio irreparable. The violence prevails throughout the film. 

Women In The Film

The short film portrays a sharp, accurate, and unsettling condition of women in contemporary Indian society, both urban and rural, at the mercy of patriarchy. Most rural Indian families don’t let women work formal jobs. Moreover, as seen throughout the film, in some villages, they’re even confined behind the “purdah” in front of men other than the husband of the woman. While the daughter-in-law is shown to be rude towards the protagonist, the old man, it is equally important to realize where her rudeness is coming from. 

Placing it in the very manifolds of patriarchal society, she is a passive character. She lacks agency, and there is almost no space to exercise any active voice she might have in her. Her comment about the responsibilities she has running the house highlights the invisible labor of women. The labor which is required equally for any healthy life. She is found fully dependent on her husband to bring home food and money. 

Additionally, the painful-to-watch incident of domestic violence comments on the reality of women’s lives. Today when domestic violence is a punishable crime, domestic violence is as natural as shown in the film. The way she already expects her husband to beat her for complaining prompts the viewer to question and engage with the question employed by Pankaj Rathee, “Where lies the agency of the woman?”

Beyond the Dialogues

Reduva, the short film is an attachment story of an old man with his cherished gift, a radio. Amidst many troubles that he meets – financial struggles and a drunkard son, he is found at peace and solace when he is with his radio. The radio, quite literally, is the only source of happiness in his life. His first scene begins with a radio playing. He falls asleep to its music and turns it on whenever he feels sad, such as when he cannot buy local cigarettes. His relationship with the music and the radio is a perpetual way of living for him in his old age. He is contemptuous and at peace reminiscing about his wife listening to the music from his wedding night.

However, there is also a constant noise of trouble, always brought in through his son. He is either fighting in the streets, or the worst, breaking his radio, leaving him sad . When the radio is broken, the static noise represents the trouble that has outbroken all of a sudden. The clever audio effects prompt the viewers to connect the physical nuisance with the familiar nuisance of broken electronic devices. The following silence serves as a metaphor for the silence that has been brought into the old man’s life. 

Summing Up Pankaj Rathee’s Reduva

While the viewers may expect a positive outcome of this rather saddening situation of the old man, disappointingly, it only gets worse. Pankaj Rathee’s film portrays not only a natural but also a real story of a regular rural household. In real life, troublemakers don’t turn good in one day. Instead, they only bring more trouble. And, the people who suffer are always the weaker section of society – women and the old in this case. The ending of Reduva is a sharp portrayal of Indian rural and general society and does not deliver false hopes for the viewers.

When you’re out for drinks with your school pals on a Friday night, what comes to mind? For me, it’s the lively times filled with laughter, skipping classes, sneaking lunch in the back seat, or having fun fights and arguments with my best friends. While I value having a good time, I do recall studying things like my fundamental rights as an Indian citizen. But one thing that doesn’t stick is how many times I had to memorize the area of a parallelogram.

Krishan Hooda’s film “Malota” is a 15-minute short film that delves into the complexities of school life and critiques the rigid education system imposed on young children. The film skillfully draws comparisons between these two distinct worlds, offering a thought-provoking perspective. Let’s explore it.

Plot

The film opens with a scene of a couple, played by Geeta Saroha and Vishal Dahiya in their domestic space. They are talking about serious issues such as probable corruption in the area. This has led to their depleting quality of life as a consequence. Due to the same, they want their child, Gulab (Vansh Mallik) to study well and find a better career plan for himself. However, his mother points out that Gulab’s interest in village activities. This highlights the psychological shift from traditional or rural to urban and modern in the parents’ minds.

Soon the scene shifts to Gulab’s school where he is asked to prepare the multiplication table of 12.75 for the next day. While Gulab is studying for the same, he gets distracted by his friends and spends the evening petting a newborn dog. This obviously results in no studies being completed. Afraid of the beating he’ll receive upon not answering the questions, Gulab decides to bunk school. 

What follows next is the story of an innocent world through a child’s lens. The outlook is different from that of us adults and it is refreshing. Almost nostalgic and leaves you with a void and scope for introspection.

Analyzing Malota: A Short Film

Malota tells the story of a kid who wants to live life on his own terms. While his parents want him to focus on education and avoid the challenges faced by uneducated people, things don’t seem to work out as planned. It could be said that this happens because of our ingrained belief in a specific type of education from an early age. The current educational system often molds individuals into a standard corporate office person, lacking individuality and personal perspective.

The entire narrative reflects the multiplication table of 12.75, which is arbitrary to begin with and allows for a wide range of interpretations. While multiplication tables are useful to a great extent, there is so much more for young minds to learn about in education besides mere arithmetic. Often critiqued as limited, they serve as an extended metaphor for every formula teaching. They also highlight the arbitrariness within them, prompting a deeper exploration of mathematical concepts and their real-world applications.

Gulab learns about managing water flow and the fundamental principles of bridge construction through a hands-on approach. Interestingly, this approach lays the groundwork for his understanding of civil engineering. Despite being deemed as a waste of time, building an improvised bridge across a random village stream can greatly enhance Gulab’s prospects in his future career. Krishan Hooda’s “Malota” highlights the contrast between rote learning and practical education. He challenges the idea that undervalues creativity and practical skills in favor of standardized educational approaches.

Summing Up

Gulab’s journey in Krishan Hooda’s “Malota” explores the negative impact of a rigid education system. The system that values conformity over practical skills and personal development. The film raises important questions about the true purpose of education. It also supports a more comprehensive approach that promotes creativity, critical thinking, and individuality. It argues that education should prioritize practical skills, individuality, creativity, critical thinking, and personal growth instead of just memorization and conformity.

As a result of increasing corruption and inflation, many rural areas have been facing illegal sand mining. This leads to severe water scarcity, taking a toll on the farmers’ livelihoods that depends on destroyed water sources. Inspired by real-life events, Mayur Dharod (Producer) and Vikram Aggarwal’s (Director) Marathi short film, Valu screens the politics of sand and water. 

Plot: Valu | Sand

The film opens with a scene of Vitthal, a farmer working in his field. His young daughter assists him. The film uses natural and realistic imagery to bring out the reality of the everyday lives of Indian farmers as a universal subject. While they continue their day-to-day chores, the family soon realises that their bore-well has dried up. This will lead to no water left for the field. Eventually, The farmer witnesses the illegal mining of sand, which has caused the river of his area to dry up. 

Worried about the outcome of sand mining and its consequences on his livelihood, Vitthal decides to report the crime to the district collector. However, the politics of sand mining have its roots spread everywhere. Upon receiving an unsatisfactory response from the officials, The Farmer decides to take control of the situation. This soon leads to a shocking end. 

Observing Valu: A Thought-Provoking Short Film About Indian Rural Issues

Shot in Solnapur, a village near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, known to be the hub of illegal river and sand mining, Mayur Dharod and Vikram Aggarwal mirror the water crisis in many regions of the country. Farmers are often viewed as easily susceptible to submission to various illegal activities imposed on them. The power equation and social structures repeatedly force them to be at the mercy of the higher officials, often involved in corrupt activities. 

Exposing the reality of farmers’ lives and the difficulties they face at the hands of dirty politics, Mayur Dharod and Vikram Aggarwal effectively highlight one of the most important rural issues of the nation. The film involves careful dialogues, such as the conversation between Vitthal and the truck driver involved in the illegal business. While one is living in a disguise, the other is environmentally conscious and chooses to live the right way. Additionally, there is prolonged silence throughout the film. This prompts the viewers think about the situations taking place and introspect about the outcomes of various events involved. The quest for observation defines the need for the right provisions instead of turning a blind eye to the basics. 

Summing Up

Indian rural areas are prone to many different types of illegal activities that essentially affect the lives of weaker communities, such as farmers. These farmers end up falling at the mercy of the ones above them, socially and economically, and losing their livelihoods. Mayur Dharod and Vikram Aggarwal’s 12-minute Marathi short film underscores the need for change in the legal and political systems. At the same time, it asks the audience to think about the actual future regardless ofselfish requirements.

The Marathi film won the People’s Choice Best Film award at the Athens Marathon International Film Festival 2020. It was a finalist for Best Film at the Human-Environment Care Film Festival in Canada the same year. Additionally, it was officially selected at the Festival Amnesty International Au Cinéma pour les Droits Humains in 2021 and the Oscar Qualifying Austin Film Festival in 2019. And there is reason for it. Watch the short film here.

Directed by Tejas Sonawane, Gunta, a 35-minute long short film, tells the tale of two men on their different yet uniquely similar journeys of navigating the complexities of urban life to pursue their dreams and aspirations in the city of Mumbai.

The film opens with a morning scene inside Rahi’s (Ashish Verma) apartment. He has just woken up to a messy house and stinking utensils in his kitchen. This highlights his need for house help as most people in urban setups do in their busy corporate lives. Soon Rahi’s position in his office is brought to screen as he finds himself at the mercy of his ruthless manager, Indira (Rajshree Deshpande). The narrative shifts to Rahi hiring house help where he meets Gurpreet (Gurpreet Sandhu), who is changing jobs because he is dissatisfied with working as a construction worker. He expresses his concerns of not being able to cover his expenses in the minimal pay of 6000 rupees in a city like Mumbai but is instantly countered by Rahi. 

The story reaches a comfortable setting where Rahi goes to the office and expresses his dissatisfaction with the job. On the other hand, Gurpreet learns the housework requirements and continues with his new job. He stumbles a lot and gets scolded by Rahi for the same but makes up for it. 

Gunta: Observing the Narrative Between the Dialogues

The film effectively draws parallels between the hardships faced by Rahi and Gurpreet, two immigrants to Mumbai, as they strive to succeed in their own jobs and deal with the difficulties of city living. Their shared struggles and goals, despite their contrasting upbringings and social status, reflect the universality of the human struggle.

Essentially, Gunta addresses the deeply ingrained class patterns in Indian culture, emphasizing the inequalities and conflicts that are present throughout its structure. Rahi, who is a script writer and an aspiring director, is constantly at the whim of his manager. Alongside, he is fed up with the unpredictable and unfair dynamics of the film industry. Similarly, Gurpreet, who aspires to work in films, is trying his best to handle the challenges of his new job. He is unable to grapple with the employer-employee relationship and treats it more like a sibling bond.

Gunta stands out for its subtle depiction of friendship and cooperation in an urban setting. The bond between Rahi and Gurpreet develops beyond the conventional notion of employer and employee. It blossoms into a complex dynamic that relies on trust and understanding on both sides of the equation. The film portrays the complicated nature of their bond through their communications and introspective moments. This tells the audience about the tragic reality and the loneliness that exists behind the surface of city life.

Summing Up

Sonwane’s direction is subtle yet evocative and captures the reality of the multifaceted struggles within metropolitan cities. He cleverly handles intricate subjects like class differences and challenges in the workplace. By letting the characters speak for themselves instead of relying on preachiness or a didactic approach, the movie invites audiences to consider the realities of urban life and the pursuit of ambitions in a world that is changing quickly.

In conclusion, Gunta is a remarkable short film that leaves a lasting impression. It reminds us that while pursuing success can be difficult, in the end, it is the relationships we make along the way that keep us going in life. With its gripping story, excellent performances, and touching message, it provides a glimpse into the lives of those who dare to dream in the city of dreams.

ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a disorder that is pretty common and manageable. But what is not common is it getting diagnosed in India. And the reason is not because it is hard to diagnose. Rather the lack of awareness about this condition and mental health in general in India is what contributes to the higher percentage of it being undiagnosed. The short film ADHD highlights this beautifully.

ADHD: A Closer Look

In about 22mins, the short film, ADHD manages to capture the audience’s attention. And it’s all due to the way the storyline is executed. Having a star-studded cast helps in gaining attention, but it’s the storyline that takes the story forward. And the creators of this film, Shipra Arora, and Shivankar Arora managed to do just that by nailing it with a strong driving storyline.

The film did stand out in certain aspects that ensured that it carried the theme of spreading awareness, such as the narrator who is also a pivotal character in the story, breaking the fourth wall now and then. By using various scenarios from everyday life, like failing to wake up early, getting distracted easily by small objects while studying, and feeling overwhelmed, each scenario though seems small carries with them a layer of what ADHD looks like. And thus, help us understand the depth and complexity of this mental health illness better.

ADHD doesn’t shy away from highlighting how people in India to this day and age still focus on the “mental” part of “mental health”. They made an impact by not shying away from shedding light on this painful reality of digital India that otherwise would have continued to remain in the dark shrouded by the thin veil of social media mental health wokeness that only targets certain age groups of people. Not being as well-covered as mental health topics like depression and anxiety, ADHD demands people’s attention to the topic as it’s not as common as one may assume it to be.

Afterword

The brilliant acting with a strong storyline is what makes ADHD a must-watch for any short film buff. Anyone looking to create more awareness about mental health, especially ADHD should really consider broadcasting this video to help communicate the message better.