Distinct Identities & Cultural Nuance: Indian Short Film Directors On Our Radar

Image Courtesy: Counterfeit Kunkoo (L) Sonsi R)

Short films formulate an exclusive medium that allows space for visual experimentation, aesthetic independence and subtle narrative, unconstrained by the conventions of feature filmmaking. Here are some emerging short film directors on our radar for their nuanced take on otherwise ordinary stories.

I. Sonsi (Shadow Bird) Dir. by Savita Singh

Savita Singh is a cinematography graduate from the Film and Television Institute of India who kickstarted her journey with her graduation film, Kramasha (2007), a short film shot in the 35mm format that bagged a National Award for Best Cinematography (2009) in the non-feature category.

After working in the industry for over a decade, Savita Singh makes her directorial debut with her Oscar Shorts qualifying film, Sonsi. At the recently held 67th National Awards, Sonsi won the ‘Best Cinematography’ award in the non-feature category.

The film explores the dreamscape of a young girl, following eight-year-old Nadi in a dream state between the conscious and the subconscious, where she looks forward to meeting her shadow bird, Sonsi. Her village wakes up only on the arrival of the timekeeper, Ghadi Babu. One day, the timekeeper does not turn up and Nadi decides to follow a trail of clues into the woods in pursuit of her shadow bird.

Find out more about Sonsi here.

Sonsi (Shadow Bird) Dir. Savita Singh

II. The Booth Dir. by Rohin Raveendran

Having specialized in cinematography from the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, Rohin Raveendran Nair is an independent filmmaker and cinematographer based out of Mumbai. His short film, ‘The Booth’, produced by Vikramaditya Motwane’s Andolan Films is currently streaming on MUBI.

The Booth is a tender encounter that offers an insight into societal taboos and repressed desires in a country like India, where love between two women is often classified as ‘forbidden’.

Hidden from the view of the passing shoppers, the film explores the romance between two women, a customer and a guard, inside the curtains of a crowded mall’s female frisking booth. The four makeshift walls of a frisking booth, become a space for Rekha and Sargam to navigate and live their reality.

The Booth Dir. by Rohin Raveendran

III. Counterfeit Kunkoo Dir. by Reema Sengupta

Reema Sengupta is a writer, director, and editor working out of Mumbai and the co-founder of the conceptual and experimental advertising agency ‘Catnip’. Her short film, ‘Counterfeit Kunkoo’, written, directed and edited by her, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Winning over 40 awards, the short film is a narrative drama that follows a lower-middle-class woman, Smita, trying to find a house to rent in Mumbai after fleeing her abusive husband. The film dabbles with serious issues like marital rape and housing discrimination in India, where single women have to defend their non-marital status.

Find out more about Counterfeit Kunkoo here.

Counterfeit Kunkoo Dir. by Reema Sengupta

IV. Mazhya Aaichi Girlfriend (My Mother’s Girlfriend) Dir. by Arun Fulara

Arun Fulara is a writer based out of Mumbai. He’s on our radar for his short film titled, Mazhya Aaichi Girlfriend. The film won the award for Best Short Fiction for its commentary on the intricacies of love, sexuality, gender, age, class and religion, at the 13th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala.

The Marathi short film intrudes upon the intimacy between Renuka and Sadiya, two elderly working-class women in love with each other as they enjoy their day out celebrating Renuka’s 50th birthday. After a day out, they head home to spend the night together, unaware that Renuka’s son is around.

Find out more about Arun Fulara here.

Mazhya Aaichi Girlfriend (My Mother’s Girlfriend) Dir. by Arun Fulara

V. Madhu (Honey) Dir. by Tanmay Chowdhary and Tanvi Chowdhary

The brother-sister filmmaker duo, Tanmay Chowdhary and Tanvi Chowdhary, with their co-directed short film, Madhu follow childhood friends Satakshi and Madhyama as they reunite during their twenties during the Durga Puja celebration.

As the night progresses, their feelings for one another are revealed, taking the audience on a Ferris wheel ride of love, hope, and dreams.