Transistor is a period short film set during emergency times (1975-1977). It is set in a remote village in India, and it’s about two teenagers, Uma and Pawan.
Both Uma and Pawan are from impoverished families. They form a connection with each other via a transistor. Pawan rafts across a small river to secretly watch Uma enjoy her time listening to the radio. One day when Pawan plans to surprise Uma, an unexpected situation occurs, which leads to the transistor getting damaged. What happens next is the premise of the short.
Transistor comprises a simple and straightforward premise. It revolves around the innocent love of the bygone era between two teenagers. They hardly speak with each other, and yet the emotions are conveyed. It is due to the lovely performances of the lead.
There are a couple of twists in the tale. The first one is easily predictable. It is the same with the second one also, but it is a little less obvious. But, despite the predictable issue, the compelling drama and simple but relatable emotion created by the lead make Transistor a decent watch. The ending is neatly done.
The direction by Prem Singh is good. Transistor feels like a short film made for awards. The making is too dry, and overall, one gets a low budget appeal. The limited casting also adds to the feel.
The writing is limited to few words. But, the effort is made (and it’s visible) to make them sound like people talking in that era. The background score by Pravesh Mallick is alright. Most of it is a recreation of the natural sound of the times to give the effect of the decade. The editing is smooth and keeps the narrative gripping despite the extremely slow pace.
If you want to watch a compelling drama from the dark hours of our Indian history, give Transistor a try. It is predictable, but its honesty shines.