Most of us live our lives on a cyclic routine. A constant, churning and repetitive pattern that, mostly, goes by undisturbed. In that unvaried pattern, certain rules establish themselves. Soon enough, these rules become an imprisoning thought, drawing us in and making us feel, irrevocably, alone amidst a sea of people. There is a lot to be asked about this kind of loneliness. Where do we go to seek our need for warmth, comfort or, even, simple companionship? Do we turn to the same society that set these caging rules of engagement in the first place?
Missing Dada is a short film about these very questions. For 8 minutes, director Shashank Jain, explores the deeply parasitic relationship between individual loneliness and societal validation.
We see the world through the lens of the eponymous ‘Dada’, a man in his senior years and set in complete consistency. He says little, spends his days changing the dates on his calendar and looks longingly at those around him. Those around him hardly take notice of him. To them, he is just a passer-by, a man of no significance. They have their own lives and Dada has his own. Dada, like the rest of the world around him, craves to be heard and seen. Chance, finally, gives him what he desires and, for a few moments, he is happy, finding joy in the smallest of gestures and greetings. How long does happiness, grounded in fallacy, last, though?
Produced under the banner of Asha-Azad-Films, Shashank Jain presents a beautifully directed film, weaving thematic ideas into one another and conveying them, mostly, through visual cues. The film, deliberately, has little dialogue. We see more than we hear. A poetic narration runs in the background, pulling us in closer to the insular world of the central character. Azad Jain does an excellent job at portraying a man who is profoundly struck by the idea of being alone. There is depth in his gaze and a profound sadness in his sighs. In a way, he makes us breathe in his defeat.
Missing Dada is not just a film about a man and his singular, desperate desire to escape his loneliness. No. It is a film about an older gentleman’s social and emotional isolation and how society, as a whole, engages with him.
Spend some time watching it. It will be a truly beautiful 8 minutes.
