Imagination is a powerful tool available to humans but so is laziness. Just when you ask people to imagine the consequences of climate change and global warming they get scared but soon enough laziness takes over and they are back to their usual routine. It’s almost as if, waking up to poor air quality and walking in between heaps of garbage disposed of on either side of the road is a completely normal thing. Nobody bats an eye. And that’s exactly what “Wade” tried to change.

Wade – Short film

Directed by Kalp Sanghvi & Upamanyu Bhattacharyya, “Wade” is a short film released in 2020 that focuses on humankind’s impending doom. Focusing on a dystopian future in Kolkata the 11 minutes short film tried to give us a glimpse of what the future will truly look like if the sea-water level keeps rising. Kolkata is a coastal city and at the end of the 18th century, Sunderbans actually extended up to Calcutta. Today, after patches of it are cleared in the name of development, it instead acts as a buffer against storms and cyclones. But with the rate at which it is depleting, it’s hard to tell for how long it will be able to continue in its role as the buffer.

“We were much more concerned with the choices and ethics of being in a post-climate change age rather than having a simplistic message like, ‘Do this and it will not happen’,” said Bhattacharyya. “We wanted to portray something very real and tell the audience that this will happen to you. So what are you going to do about it?” said Sanghvi.

Bridging The Gap Between Present & Future

By portraying the grim reality, they tried to bring to notice how civilised humankind has returned back to its earlier savage ways through the horrific portrayal of drowning a crying baby in order to silence it to save others who are hiding from a man-eating streak of tigers. From their pupils being reduced to tiny dots on their faces as a way to convey a sense of anxiety and also as a result of being exposed to the sun for too long to eating anything and everything they can get their hands on to survive, humanity has fallen into the deep depths of desperation as a consequence of their own action.

By showcasing the stark difference of how Kolkata used to be or still is in some affluent parts with big skyscrapers and hundreds of AC for each flat, it tries to highlight the point, temporary pleasure leads to a lifetime of regret. This particular comparison also brings to light the way in which the poor suffer for the ways of the rich. The choice of the location being Kolkata’s famous Park Street makes it even more difficult for people to unwatch the horrors that are about to follow them soon. 

Afterword

This haunting 11min short film with no dialogue conveys more emotions than any gut-wrenching dialogue out there. It’s a hauntingly closer look at the future which is much closer than we thought it actually is. Instead of trying to give people a small indigestion with a film that tells them how to stop the drastic effects of climate change from taking its hold on us, it manages to give them a full-blown diarrhoea with no steps on how to stop it to draw more attention to the seriousness of the situation at hand rather than the solution which as mentioned earlier will always be put off till the very last minute because of laziness. It is a desperate effort to create climate change awareness.

Movies tend to show a reflection of life. They through influence awaken masses from a slumber of fascade. Wonderful work of animations that will blow you mind with effort and the intentions they want to promote. Serving as a reminder to appreciate, acknowledge and acceptance these movies have some amazing simple storyline presented in the most authentic ways.

ONE – Midnight Kettle

A short film emphasises the essence of worth being determined not by societal standards but right time and place. Written and directed by Ketal Pal, the animated film shows a significant reality through the story of A One rupee coin navigating its way through a highly dominated monetary value system. In a world where the idea of worth is determined by its capacity is pedestaled. The raw emotions dwelling inside a mere coin’s head show a transition from a carefree character to an insecure coin who lacks and feels useless. Discovering a space in the arcade where the coin is genuinely appreciated and realises its worth unveils the facade everyone is blinded by like shown in the marketplace. The movie is a great reminder to acknowledge and accept oneself and not let otherworldly factors influence you. The creation of animation is done phenomenally almost humanising money and reflecting human society through it. With assurance, the movie promises every individual is special and it’s all about the right unfolding in life to meet the right people, belong to a community and give back to it through your potential.

Hope, The Boat – Paper Boat

Hope, The Boat carries an essence of hope and aspiration that goes a long way beyond all the troubles. It is a story of a little boy dreaming to be on The Great Cruise who creates a paper boat whose journey is comforting and inspiring as it finally reaches its aspirations. The short film directed by Dhruv Sachdeva and Clifford Afonso is a delightful animation, light yet impactful. The visuals created are perfect and the humanising of the boat is amazing. The boat represents hope, a hope to dream and not live under the fear of being crushed or trashed. The symbolic way the apprehension and obstacles are presented through different natural factors as well as a promise of shelter throughout the bad days is wonderful to watch. The movie ends with the young boy making it to the cruise and all the paper boats following the cruise to their eventual destination. A lovely movie that is definitely worth your watch.

Rewa Nainon Mei Rahe, Bombay Rose – Gitanjali Rao

Bombay Rose will completely captivate your heart and mind with its visuals and spectacular plot. A fascination and a trance that you enter while just watching the movie will leave you in awe. The music used that almost directs the movie, Rewa Nainon Mei Rahe by Cyli Khare sounds divine. A movie appealing to eyes shows the intricacies of love which remains unrequited.The constant subtle seamless transition between the two relams a street in Bombay and A nostalgic location centuries ago is what elevates the entire movies. The transitions are stunning and leaves a sudden impact with a lot of thoughts just rushing about the story. The entire animation is unbeliveable, the way details are taken care of and showing the sheer dedication put in producing this art. The movements throughout the movie and potrayal of emotions is what really catches your attention. The writer and director of the movie Gitanjali Rao and entire involvement of people have created a masterpiece.

Child labour is a persistent social issue that affects many children in India. According to the 2011 census, out of 25.6 million children in India between the ages of 5 and 14, 1.01 million are engaged in some form of child labour. These children should be in school, learning and pursuing their dreams, but instead they are forced to work in order to survive. While progress has been made in addressing this issue, it remains a significant problem that needs to be addressed.

Baitullah

With many other social evils making headlines today, child labour has taken a backseat in mainstream media. It’s as if it has become quite normal. Thus, Jitendra Rai felt it was the need of the hour to bring forth this issue. Written and directed by Rai, ‘Baitullah’ tells the story of one such kid who had to watch his dream getting shattered into a million pieces in the face of his reality.

The movie makes you question whether we have really made progress or not. It makes you think how many times have you ignored a child who is delivering tea? Or a child who is “helping out” at a store? Did we ever stop to think, why is he/she not in school? The answer is probably no, because that’s how normal it has become.

There are many thought-provoking scenes in the 7 mins short film, but the one that left mark on me is probably the scene which features the child, Baitullah praying in a temple after delivering tea to the priest. You can see his mouth salivating at the sight of the fruits laid out in front of the deities as offerings. India is a country where children are considered the reflection of God. It’s quite ironic that they are letting this living, breathing reflection live and die in suffering. Yet they make such grandiose offerings to the deities hoping it would please them.

Afterword:

The movie does a really good job of bringing the story of millions of kids forward. Creating the perfect setting by focusing on little things such as showing how a kid longs for toys and to be around peers of his age and do the same thing as they are doing such as going to school, the film manages to leave a huge impact on the viewer. With stellar directing skills and an amazing cast, Rai has successfully managed to bring forth the issue of child labour into the mainstream.  

It is a movie that reminds you of the things that you have taken for granted which are still far-fetched dreams for someone else. The emotions it manages to evoke without much dialogue go on to show the true power of directing. It’s a film for every child’s dream that remains unfulfilled.    

The prism of the lives that we live are filled with multiple angles of socio-economic elements. Our privileges and marginalizations make huge impacts in our lives. Ajitpal Singh, through his short film, ‘Rammat Gammat (My Best Friend’s Shoes)’ highlights these social hierarchies through the innocent friendship of two young boys. The 18-minute Gujarati language short film received a special mention at the 64th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen. It also made it to the Palm Springs International Film Festival and the Stony Brook Film Festival.

Plot/Synopsis

‘Rammat Gammat’ opens with two young school-going boys, who from the very first glance we can guess are close friends. Bhushan (played by Shivam Math) and Avinash (played by Yash Harsh Patel) are united by their love for football. They go to the same school, and so of course go to the school together, come back together and after school, practice football together. Ajitpal Singh makes us aware of the differences between the two boys: their opposite socio-economic standing.

While Avinash belongs from a well-to-do household, living in the middle of the hustle bustle of the town, Bhushan lives with his mother at the outskirts in a shed. Their friendship is put to questioning when Avinash, owing to his privilege, gets a new set of soccer shoes. Moreover, his admission in the city school would provide him with new opportunities to play and practice football. The viewers witness Bhushan, eyeing the shiny studs, and drowned in envy as his friend will soon leave for the city for better education and training in football.

Rammat Gammat: A Tale Of Talent Vs Privilege?

Ajitpal Singh has knit together a holistic movie against the backdrop of a green landscape and a monsoon scenery. The movie unravels friendship, class, society, dreams, and privileges. The 18-minute movie probes you to think deeper about the hierarchies that exist between everyone: friends and family members and if these hierarchies are bigger than human connections and love.

In the contemporary society, our privileges play a crucial role in determining the turnout of our lives. In the film, Bhushan is clearly the better football player than Avinash yet we are made aware that Bhushan will have to cross more thresholds than Avinash will, to be able to achieve the same dream.

The ending of the movie settles a beautiful message. Despite the differences between the two boys: caste and class differences, acts of thievery, and daring to dream big, the two of them sit together and smile at each other. Maybe these differences are just the creation of the adult society. Such differences are dispelled almost immediately, their relevancy is put on the edge of the cliff, between the innocent hearts of the children.

Rape is one of the most heinous and prevalent sexual crimes in India. In 2021 alone, 31,000 rape cases were reported. These are only the reported and filed cases when we know that the real unreported count is very, very high. India has witnessed many moments of fierce protests against sexual violence. The Nirbhaya rape case was one such moment that brought the country together and even reached the folds of the global west. However, we might want to look closer into the spectrum of sexual violences. To make it easier, we can turn to Ankur Nayyar’s most recent short film, ‘Mard Ka Rape Nahi Hota’.

‘Mard Ka Rape Nahi Hota’ is an attempt at initiating a conversation around gender-neutral rape laws and recognising that men can be the victims of rape too.

Plot

The entire film is located in a police office, at the kernel of law and order, crime and punishment. We’re introduced to a man (played by Ankur Nayyar himself) stepping inside the police office to file a complaint. He hesitates in narrating the crime he’s here to get filed. After much rude pushes by the police inspector, he finally reveals that his girlfriend, who’s been cheating on him, has raped him. The police officer denies registering the complaint at the justification that “a man cannot be raped.”

The film further takes us to different perspectives, which pans out the idea that the Indian law only considers women as the victims of rape and ignores men as victims of it too. This means a man who’s been sexually assaulted has no protection from the law. Ankur Nayyar also highlights situations in which men are the victim of false rape allegations.

‘Mard Ka Rape Nahi Hota’: Ankur Nayyar Appeals For Rape Laws For Men

When Ankur’s character confesses that he’s been raped, the police officer and the surrounding constables burst into laughter. The beginning of the film itself presents the cruel idea that men aren’t seen as victims of rape. In fact, the police officer says that it is quite impossible for a man to be raped. However, according to some real cases, this isn’t quite true. In 2018, five men raped a 17-year-old boy. In 2021, a French woman accused another woman, Divya Dureja, of sexual violence. The Priya Patel case brought forth the reality that women too can be active participants in the facilitation of rape. Since Indian law only recognises rape for women, these above-mentioned cases fall out of the spectrum of rape, even for a teenage boy.

‘Mard Ka Rape Nahi Hota’, directed by Yogesh Pagare, appeals for gender-neutral laws which recognize not only women as the victims of it but also men. Moreover, Ankur Nayyar, through the short film, also demands security for people charged with fraudulent sexual crime allegations.

The Ongoing Debate

While the short film appeals for the same laws for men too, it misses out on the inclusion of the transgender community. There are no rape laws protecting the trans community which invisibilises the sexual offences committed against them. The film solely focuses on men and their victimization.

Moreover, there is a huge debate revolving around the difference between ‘rape’ and ‘sexual assault’. Many feminist groups perceive rape as an exclusive patriarchal crime in which women have been the sites of sexual violence through forced and non-consensual penetration or oral sex and the invalidation of that will put women in triple-fold danger. Many foreign states, on the other hand, use sexual assault and rape interchangeably.

Therefore, one can also wonder if Ankur’s character’s emphasis on ‘rape’ was rightful or not. He was emotionally and mentally blackmailed and threatened by her girlfriend of false rape charges, but many can comment on the loose use of ‘rape’ in such a context. It is, however, acknowledged that his confession of being raped was definitely used to highlight the stigma, shame, and disbelief attached to the idea of men as the victims of rape.

The demand to include gender neutrality in the Indian rape laws is asking for a change from ‘women’ to ‘persons’ to include all genders, who might be the victims of rape and sexual offences. Several groups and activists want a balanced set of laws that can maintain gender equality between all.

Disclaimer: This feature is not an endorsement by The Talented Indian. Viewers’ discretion is advised.