5 Indian Director's short films which definitely needs a Watch

As opposed to the west (especially Hollywood) where filmmakers, both new and old, keep making short films, we rarely see our filmmakers experiment. We list some must watch titles.

1.  Kali-Katha, the 'prologue' to Anurag Kashyap's Ugly.

Anurag Kashyap has always taken an unconventional and daring path when it comes to his films or their promotions. 

This katha is not about Kali the goddess, but Kali, the innocent bud of a child who is the starting point for all the drama in Ugly. Kali-Katha is a five-minute short which culminates with the director showing us how Kali was conceived.

The short film shows the past relationship between Kali's parents - Rahul who is a struggling actor and Shalini who is a housewife, though not by choice, and the disturbing conditions under which she was born. 

Says Anurag, "It's a very dark prologue to the film that talks about the circumstances around the conception of Kali. It explores the uncomfortable truth below the surface of relationships, which we often ignore and refuse to accept."

2. Going Home - Vikas Bahl

Alia Bhatt's short film "Going Home", based on women's safety says "I pledge to create a short film titled 'Going Home', in which we visualise a utopia for women, where, unlike today, mistrust and fear don't dictate actions and decisions."

The over five-minute long film shows Alia driving all by herself in the middle of the night and telling her mother over the phone that she will reach home soon. This short film featuring Alia Bhatt, made as a part of  Vogue Empower campaign tried to show us the need for creating a better world for women, one where they can live safely rather than in fear.

3. The Masterchef - Ritesh Batra

 This 8 minute short film directed by Ritesh Batra of The Lunchbox.

‘Akhil, a young shoeshine boy, dreams of becoming a gourmet chef when he has a chance encounter with India’s most popular TV cuisiner.’ Tentatively titled Master Chef, it is about a boot polish wala who aspires to become a renowned chef.

4. I Am That Change - Sukumar

The movie directed by Sukumar is crisp and conveys its fundamental message with the right amount emotions involved in it. I Am That Change tells the story of day to day lives of people from different classes, age groups and gender, inspiring the viewers to do the right thing in any situation. Starring popular telugu star Allu Arjun, the film is effective and has the feel of a public service ad. However the intention is noble and so is the message  of being the change you want to see around you, which strikes a chord with us, motivating us to do our duties to make the nation a better place to live.

5. Gharwali Diwali - Vikramaditya Motwane

This short film made for Pepsi India during the festive season was aimed towards making people nostalgic about the time they celebrated Diwali with their parents and relatives. It is also about the tradition, bonding and the delicacies that Diwali brings with it. Also, as you can see, the video also depicts how technology has changed the way we communicate with our family.

PepsiCo India’s Head of Digital Marketing, Rishi Dogra says, “The joy of celebrating any occasion with your family is unmatched. This Diwali, we wanted to cherish this affectionate bond and help people relive these moments which often get missed in our always on and virtually connected lifestyle. With the film, which has been beautifully created by Vikramaditya Mortwane, consumers are sure to experience some long lost nostalgic moments.

Which one did you like the most, and have we missed out any? If yes, then do let us know.