Films and filmmaking is something that has been deeply affected owing to the COVID-19 outbreak. A lot of schedules have been stalled and a number of shoots even stand cancelled. But, one space that is thriving is the digital short film space. Filmmakers, and even actors, are getting on-board with the idea and telling some very interesting and relatable stories through their short films.
This time has been a shared experience of a mixed bag of emotions for all of us, and these short films are a reflection of that. Some filmmakers are even going ahead and challenging the various obstacles to the craft that this pandemic has brought with it. They have tried to create some very interesting premises and situations, all while adhering to precautionary measures and social distancing.
Here’s a list of short films to catch during these times:
The Relationship Manager
A Large Short Films production, this film stars Annup Soni and Divya Dutta in lead roles. Directed by Falguni Thakore, the film addresses domestic abuse faced by women for generations now. It talks about the abuse that has specifically increased in the lockdown and has Annup and Divya speaking to each other over call. The message is beautifully portrayed and put across and makes for a must watch because of the powerful performances.
Rashq
Rashq is a short film directed by New York based filmmaker, Rajiv Walia. He has previously directed an award-winning short film called Saho. Rashq follows the story of Raghav Mehra, a well known industrialist, who is being questioned by
Sana Vartak
from the Mumbai Crime Branch over the death of his wife, Alia Mehra. The case takes a surprising turn once investigations begin, and this makes for the rest of the story. Shot within a budget, the cast consists of well-known actor, Shishir Sharma, along with Pooja Bhamrra, Bhuvan Arora and Palak Purswani. The film is going to release soon and I am sure it’ll be an entertaining lockdown watch!
Tamas
Tamas is a short film that has been directed and written by actor, Adhvik Mahajan. He also stars in it, along with Rashami Desai. This short is a tale of unexpected companionship and acceptance. Shot by Adhvik, this film uses the restraints of our current situation and turns it into something sweet and thought-provoking. It is a great watch for Rashami’s cameo appearance.
Anisht
You may know Tanuj Virwani from his role as cricketer Vayu Raghavan in the Amazon series, Inside Edge. But during the lockdown, he decided to expand his skills and came out with his own short film. He has shot and acted in the short called Anisht, which is a suspense horror thriller. Shot with almost no dialogues, the film is all about the shots, scenes and the mood that is created, which keeps you hooked till the end. I think Tanuj really has a knack for filmmaking and cannot wait to see him explore in the space further.
Unlocked
Writer and director Abhijit Das, who has previously directed serials and shows like Sanjivani and Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain, has put together a series of short films shot during the lockdown. He came up with the idea of writing 5 stories shot across various locations and starring actors from India, USA, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sweden and UK. Each story and character leads to the other as they unlock a secret trapped amongst them. It stars actors like Smiriti Kalra, Jason Tham, Taha Khan, Niki Walia, Shahana Bajpai and many more. The one above is the first short film of the series that is called ‘Unlocked: The Stranger’.
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Actress Richa Chadha used the time during quarantine well and shot a sci-fi short film along with filmmaker Arati Kadav. The film is about living in a world that is on the edge. The film saw various artists join hands to make a film remotely and Richa says it is a great to create something so thought-provoking and nice during these grim times, I sure can’t wait to catch this film very soon!
You’ve watched more short films? Let us know about it in the comments below!