Short films are something that are just a few minutes long but can leave a lasting impression on someone. The Indian Short film scene is ever-growing and covers some very sensitive and yet talked about topics out there today. The short films are more easily accessible as these are something that are easily available on YouTube. Here we have curated a list of short films that are based on powerful topics and tell stories on the lives of women in different situations.
Juice (2017)
Starring the amazing Shefali Shah, the short film focuses on the life of a housewife. The film shows how a woman so many years after her marriage is still struggling with her married life and even though she tries to be the best wife and homemaker, sometimes it’s just not possible. She is shown reaching her breaking point, where her frustrations take the best of her. She has her own issues, her own struggles, her prejudices and her own boundaries. She does her best but sometimes it’s not. Watch Shefali Shah’s terrific performance in this film, where steals the show with her expressions more than anything.
The Day After Everyday (2017)
A film by Anurag Kashyap, it stars Radhika Apte, Sandhya Mridul, Geetanjali Thapa and Aranya Kaur in the lead roles. A powerful and soul shaking movie that focuses on how a grave issue that every woman out there today goes through. Based around sexual harassment and eve teasing, the film tells the stories of 3 women and how they talk about their various struggles and specially the helplessness the face during such situations. This is where the women decide that it’s up to them to protect themselves and take actions when things start going wrong.
Budh (2018)
Budh- The Awakening, was released in 2018 and received various accolades. The film was nominated for a Filmfare award in 2020. The film follows and showcases the lives of three women, who are worlds apart but all of them are connected by the prejudices, harassments and tortures that women go through in their everyday life. The film focuses on the fact that no matter where a woman is, who the woman is, what age the woman is, they all have to face the same physical and mental harassment throughout their lives.
Nitishastra (2018)
This short film stars none other than the Bollywood star Taapsee Pannu in a bold role like her other movies. The film follows her around as she is introduced to the viewers as someone who offers self defense classes to other young girls. She is someone who will stand up for women and will not let anything bad happen when she is around. Her life takes a turn when the values she stands for are questioned as her brother gets involved in a heinous crime. Now it is upto her to either take the side of her brother, her own blood or to stand with her ethics and everything she has ever taught and believed. The film is also known to drive inspiration from the teachings in Mahabharata.
Devi (2020)
This probably was one of the most famous and talked about short movies released last year. “Devi”, has an ensemble cast and focuses on the lives of 9 women. One can see many familiar faces including Kajol, Neha Dhupia and Shruti Hasan. The film talks about sexual violence that these women go through who are all from different walks of life, different background but the one thing connecting them is the violence they went through. Sharing the same room, all these women have their own disagreements but a hard hitting; scary truth that they all share is what keeps them together till the end.
Ghar Ki Murgi (2020)
A Sony LIV short film, starring Sakshi Tanwar, tells the story of a housewife in Indian Middle Class family. As one can expect, the film follows Sakshi’s character who acts as the glue for her family. She does all the work and even more that is expected from a good wife, mother and a daughter-in-law. She does it all and without complaints, but then her family is not someone who will acknowledge the struggles she goes through everyday. Her only happiness is her small business, where she runs a beauty parlor. She loses it when her husband mocks it and this is when she decides to take a step. Something that shocks her entire family and makes everyone question her decision. What is her decision? Watch the film to find out.
Holi ka Dahan (2020)
This is something different from all others, it sort of light but also not because it is an important thing one should understand. Stuck in a super toxic relationship, the leading lady of the film can’t seem to let go. She is scared, scared of the unknown future that she might face without having a partner. But she knows she needs to make a decision. It is the day of holi that she chooses to break off, cut off everything from her life that stood for the toxic relationship she was in. As she decides to take the step of letting go of her relationship, she soaks in color quite literally as she embraces the colors of holi on her.
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