Screening of short films

I’ve been there and done that. From Ghajini to Australia and back. All two-hours-plus of each. But now, the appeal of a short film, like a light salad dinner after a humongous brunch, is high.

Psychologically, it’s the perfect time to indulge in a festival of really short films. Which is why I’m so glad that I got a chance to preview the line-up that’s going to be screened at this month’s gathering of Shamiana, the short film club spearheaded by Mumbai theatre director Cyrus Dastur.

Each of these films (the longest is 10-minutes) are glimpses into different worlds. The Indian ones are a motley mix of ideas and directors. Idiot, so simple yet fascinating, tickled my funny bone with director Dedipya Bhanu’s interpretation of a farcical situation. Unnoticed Love by Amit Khanna, spoke to me on an emotional plane. Aman Sachdeva’s Karaamat (The Miracle), was Sadaat Hasan Manto’s controversial story about Salim, a thief and murderer who mysteriously transforms himself into a pious man. A three-minute tale about the differently abled that showcased the talents of students from St Andrew’s College was director Shounak Sengupta’s Red Rose and a White Petticoat. Suraj Uchil and Satchit Subramanium created In(k) the Book, a film that gave me food for thought. The most evocative one was the delicately nuanced Whims and Fancies by Lavira, Nikhilesh and Shweta, where a little girl hankers after a balloon.

The two foreign films were just as fascinating. I absolutely loved The Story of a Caramel, Portuguese director Pedro Mota Teixeira’s sweet animated tale about an adorable piece of chocolate! And George Lucas In Love by US filmmaker Joe Nussbaum was a quirky peek into the life of the Star Wars’ director.

All in all, a nice set of shorts to whet my appetite for film as I take a breather from Hollywood and Bollywood blockbusters. And aren’t shorts are THE must-have this season? In more ways than one, I see.

SHAMIANA: The Short Film Club screening at 6.30 pm on January 7 at Not Just Jazz by the Bay: 143, Soona Mahal, Marine Drive, Mumbai; Tel: 22024103; Entry Charge: Rs.100.