2nd Cut.In 2010
JURY REPORT 2010:
There is a range of styles and modes of story telling that bear witness to the emergence of a mature culture of media production among young filmmakers. The jury expresses its pleasure at the quality of entries, particularly in the short fiction section. The entries demonstrate the ability to tell stories in an engaging and sensitive fashion. Many of the films display nuanced use of images and sounds, to evoke multiple realities and worlds. The documentary section had some interesting films that went beyond using the image as evidence and explored the affective dimension of image and sound. While many of the films demonstrated a strong engagement with social issues, the jury felt that the documentary films would be stronger if the filmmakers engaged more closely and flexibly with the creative and innovative potential of documentary cinema, particularly in ways that go beyond information and description. In the music video and PSA sections, the jury felt that there was room for improvement in the quantity and quality of entries. The jury recommends a travelling Cut.In package of selected films which could go to film schools and other educational institutions and has suggested exploring ways to allow films to be uploaded onto the internet.
Short Fiction Special Mention of the Jury
Dopahar: Interesting concept of layers of memory. Subtle articulation of identity, transformation and dislocation.
Special Mention of the Jury
Ek Kaktaliyo Golpo: A nuanced and textured representation of an urban neighbourhood, seen through the eyes of an observant child. Competent camera work, editing and delineation of characters.
Silver
Altamash: Well visualised milieu and sustained mood, with consistent quality of images that evokes the world of a sensitive child.
Gold
Pollena Kathe: Beautifully short and conceived, interesting sense of the mythic, ritual and folk idiom. Good awareness of the ‘living’ camera – a participant in the drama. Consistently good performances by the actors. Original concept and very well edited.
Documentary
Silver
Limited Edition: Sensitive and dignified representation of the world and creativity of a writer-street tea vendor. The filmmaker is able to construct an engaging narrative around a fascinating subject.
Gold
End of Flight: Well researched and sensitively filmed, universally resonant theme of dislocation and memories of traumatic experiences. Well conceived sound and cinematography.
Gold
A Family Story: Well constructed narratives of gender dilemmas. It uses sound and images in minimal and dynamic ways, to tell the story of three generations of women.
PSA Special Mention of the Jury
Hearts: Simple yet effective concept. Innovative use of sound.
Music Video Special Mention of the Jury
Sadho re: Contemporary rendition of a Kabir song, with visual allusions to recent social movements of resistance. Dynamic visualisation and editing, moving away from literal enactment to allow the viewer to feel the music.
Technical Awards
Excellence in Cinematography
Tana Bana: Well crafted surfaces, spaces and lighting, maintaining a sense of mystery and evocative use of colour and black and white.
Excellence in Cinematography
Ek Kaktaliyo Golpo
Excellence in Editing
Ghadyalancha Dawakhana: A coming of age story that flows effortlessly. A subtle change of character from self-centeredness to growing respect for a parent.
Pollena Kathe
Excellence in Sound Design
Dopahar
Films Screened at Cut.In 2010
SHORT FICTION
Altamash, 12 mins, dir by Pooja Madhavan: The film Altamash(7th heaven), is about a 10 year old boy, Sultan, who is trying to understand the relationship that he shares with his father who isn’t there.
Chattalamazha, 15 mins 25 secs, dir by Ahsam K.R : A film that celebrates childhood through a day in Geetu’s life. Shot in lush green Kerala, this film also celebrates the rain. Geetu, a sober and relatively quiet girl who is quite particular about her appearance and punctuality, slowly breaks all rules just to fulfil her small desires. The drizzle resembles the spontaneity of a child.
Dopahar, 16 mins 24 secs, dir by Siddharth Gautam Singh : A summer afternoon, a lonely homemaker, an unexpected guest, mango pickles and memories…Suman is trying to fit into the role of the wife in an arranged marriage. Both Suman and Rakesh are living a very functional relationship. One summer afternoon, a chance buying of raw mangoes and a visit by a mysterious old woman leads to making pickles and remembering a forgotten memory from the past. The film revolves around the themes of memories, remembering, forgetting and storytelling. The film uses pickle making as a metaphor. The pickling of fruits and vegetables becomes analogical to the way we preserve memories. And like the pickle changes its flavor with time, our memories keep changing their flavor too.
Ekti Kaktaliyo Golpo, 10 mins 10 secs, dir by Tathagata Singh
Ghadyalancha Dawakhana, 10 mins 30 secs, dir by Vikrant Pawar
Gullak, 19 mins, dir by Manish Saini : Gullak tells the tale of little Dipu and Chini’s struggle to pay off their debt to the local bully. Times are tough, but Chini finds a piggy bank to help them save money. With their grandfather’s help, the children begin collecting cash in the hopes of escaping Gagan, their tormentor. But will the “Gullak” help them or will it eat up all their savings?
Mundirithoppukallude Kavalkkaran, 15 mins, dir by Jomon K. Joseph : An old man leading a lonely life in a big house in a lonely place. And his son is busy with his fast IT life. One day the old man breaks the barrier between himself and his son. After that, the son realises his fathers affection and starts living according to his fathers thoughts. (no photographs)
NEWS, 20 mins, dir by Sarvesh Mewara
Pollena Kathe, 15 mins, dir by Udayraj P.J :This film is inspired by Tulu folktales. It uses popular motifs, legends and symbols used in the Tulu region. It is an attempt to create a folk film. Pollena Kathe is the story of Polla a young man in the village who believes folktales to be real. Batru, is the temple priest, one of Polla’s very few friends. Batru starts believing in Polla’s tales and they embark on a treasure hunt. It turns out to be a wild goose chase.The next day, Batru asks Polla to narrate his own story. Polla narrates the story of the simpleton to Batru and what follows next reinforces Batru’s belief in Polla.
Taana Baana, 14 mins, dir Priyanka Chhabra : Inspired by Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s first novel Poor Folk, Taana Baana is a film about two stories, facing windows, and a lane separating them. A young girl, curious about her sister’s ways, and an old clerk living the same life everyday. Writing letters to each other, They share memories, little gifts, maybe much else? One day the girl receives a letter from her friend who lives in another city. Is this the change she has been looking for?
Zero Error, 12 mins 34 secs, dir by Divyang Thakkar: After checking in, he orders all his favorite food items and drinks. He then takes a lavish bubble bath. Following this he gobbles down all the food at one go. He then takes out a gun from his bag and ponders over it. He wants to kill himself but there is a feeling of incompleteness. He starts looking around and tries to figure out that one thing that’s stopping him from killing himself.
SHORT DOCUMENTARY
A Family Story, 6 min 53 secs, dir by Mridu Mehta: Khushi’s father is a good-for-nothing. He doesn’t earn money and doesn’t contribute to the household. The couple used to fight all the time. Pinkyben refuses to live with him anymore and has been trying for a divorce. She appreciates her independence. In her community, that isn’t granted to a woman. A male figure is automatically a necessary support and protection. Pinkyben will not remarry. Too much trouble she says. Her strong opposition to marriage and men belies her wish for a romantic fairytale – like in the movies. She wishes she had not succumbed to family pressure, and giggles at the idea of having a love marriage. Her mother, Kunvarben a widow, silently holds fort for her family. The family makes a modest living ironing clothes. Not having grown up with any male figure in the family Khushi is innocently impervious to the difficulties faced by her mother and grandmother.The film uses photographs rather that video to construct the narrative. It is a personal exploration of the lives of the protagonists from a feminist point of view.
Caca Cola – The Mockumentary, 8 minutes, Director: G Bharani: Caca cola is a mockumentary about the soft drinks that are very popular around the world today. It is a fake-documentary based on the rumours that spread in the internet about these soft drink and its usages. Like in some websites it is depicted that these soft drinks are used for cleaning toilets. So taking this further more in this Caca cola- mockumentary, The Soft drink Caca cola, is used by various people for various other purposes apart from drinking. This fake-documentary, called widely as mockumentary goes over the edge on mocking the soft drinks and its usages.
Dust to Glory, 10 mins 10 secs, dir: varun Mehra
Ini orru vidhi seivom – the beginning, 11 minutes, director: Avinash Prakash: A new Revolution begins. Aranvayil a small village 50 kms away from Chennai the capital of Tamilnadu, is like any other village with its typical lifestyle and usual sets of problems an average village faces, and they go to their Panchayath for all their issues. Many issues were not takes care of, mainly which were related to children, education; and smaller issues were never taken into consideration. The Children of this village then decided with the help of their guide and mentor Lokambal, to be a part and parcel of the Panchayath and to start bringing changes that they can as responsible children do. This Documentary captures the Children’s Parliament’s first biggest achievement, i.e. opening of a library for the children of the village which will function on every weekend, and also sharing to the world how they began and where they are now…
Limited Edition, 23 mins, dir by Md.Monazir Alam, Pooja Shali, Sonia Nepram, Tenzin C Bhutia: It can only be an indomitable spirit that still makes Lakshman Rao head to his tea shop everyday. He cycles long distances to prepare tea at a street corner, a profession he is now into for years. The tea shop is Rao’s only source of income, for he has to provide for his family of four. However, this job has in no way deterred him to work harder for his one aim. He calls himself an author. As his customers sip his hot cup of tea, Rao pens down thoughts on rough lose sheets and calls it a literary draft. Born in Amravati, Maharashtra, Lakshman Rao resolved to become a writer when he was a teenager. His is a treacherous journey from Maharashtra to Delhi, a transformation from Marathi to Hindi, and a long cherished dream that refuses to die down. Lakshman Rao is 55 years old. At an age when many begin to fade out into spiritual ecstasy or family chores, his dream lives on and so does he. He has no option but to publish his own books and distribute them on his rickety bicycle. ‘Limited edition…’ explores his struggle to fulfil a wish and manage the responsibilities the life has put him in. A struggle, that many like him have already quit half way. Lakshman Rao believes that one day he would, with a lot of pride declare that his words have won over the tea he makes. That he is a writer…. Only a writer
Sarkhej , 12 mins, Shraddha Sakhalkar: Sarkhej is a group of monuments under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India which lie 8 kilometres from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India. The primary monument that attracts thousands of visitors is the mausoleum of a Sufi saint. The film Sarkhej is about the interaction of the people with this space. Overtly it is an account of the oral history of the area and the historical figures that used to inhabit it. But subtly one sees layers of emotions while also sampling the vibrant and varied social fabric of Gujarat.
Gramin Dak Sevak , 8 min 56 secs ,Dir by Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj: Gramin Dak Sevaks or the Rural Postal employees are a part of the Indian Postal department with strength of 3 lakh employees all over India. They have been serving the system for more than 100 years now. Though the living conditions have changed the working condition of these employees have not. They have been deprived of their rights and protests have been going on for years. The question is actually of survival now. An occupation which was once carried out in the proximities of a village has extended to the never ending boundaries of fast growing cities. Though the GDS employees are supposed to serve only the rural areas, they have now been outsourced for work in the urban areas. This is not only a burden on the employees; they have not been entitled to any benefits even after being overloaded with huge amount of work. The work takes more than 12 hours to finish but the salary paid is only for 5 hours. How can one survive with a meagre salary of 2000 or 3000 rupees in the cities or even in the vicinity of a city when the price of everything has shot up substantially? The film is an effort to bring out the difficulties and issues of GDS employees, so that the government and the masses take a notice of their presence and work towards imparting justice to them.
The End of Flight, 29 mins,dir by Tariq Thekaekara: Our country has seen riots, wars, murders, rapes and even genocides, all of which have been left behind millions of victims whose wounds may never heal. The partition of India and the Second World War forced millions into political refuge, but today more than 60 years down the line there are few to tell the tale. The film is a short series of firsthand accounts of how they made their way into India against all odds.
PSA
A Dark Morning, 2 mins, dir by Shamil Haja: A dark morning portrays the feelings and emotions of a person while reading about the evil stories in the paper. Quite often, such news in the newspaper about the brutality and injustice by the tyrant democrats disturbs many of us. The film is on such emotions and feelings of a helpless man.
Advertisement (for water conservation), 90 secs, Taha Tanwer : It is about some place and time which can come in near future. A time when water is left in stories only. People of that futuristic time have not even seen water at all; and so an old lady who knows about water, is trying to explain to them (and thus the viewers) about water through a story and she is simultaneously remembering her own childhood and is making a boat. Her fidgeting with that paper boat shows the restlessness of her mind. Finally she places the boat over dried land and the tagline makes us aware of the concern of the said story i. e. water. ‘paani ya kahaani’ asks the viewers to make a choice between the two in a subtle way.
Ahmedabad – Zero ya Hero?, dir by Tarka Patil: The Walled City of Ahmedabad has ingredients to be a successful Heritage city within a city. What is needed is a visionary master plan and immediate implementation. The good news is the thriving heritage of the city in the form of ‘pol houses’, and active preservation efforts happening at an individual level. The bad news is that much is still in great danger of loss. The downright ugly news is that much has been lost already and is getting replaced by structures with minimal care for context. Ahmedabad requires master plan regulation to direct its future development in healthy, contextually-sensitive ways to improve the city, rather than tear it apart.
Hearts, 37 secs, dir by Maaz Kazmi: ‘Hearts’ (2009) is a public service advertisement highlighting the fact that today’s sedentary lifestyle enjoyed by most in the corporate world becomes the major cause for several heart ailments. This advertisement appeals to people from the corporate world to take some time out from their hectic lifestyle and care for their heart.
Iss baar mat chukna,2 mins 33 secs, dir by Prutha Soman: It is a part of a pulse polio campaign .it brings out a message that it high time that we need to eradicate this disease. It does not stop at mere questioning but goes into a rebellion that goes into a rebellion and ends on a tag line “POLIO AUR BHI KHATARNAK HO SAKTA HAI”.
MUSIC VIDEO
Kesariya, 3 mins, dir by Nikhil Idurkar
Kya Karenge Bhaiye, 4 min 55 secs, dir by Tanushri: Ab Kya Karenge Bhaiya is based on those college boys who enjoy their college life with full carelessness and busyness in other activities rather than studies. Though the college life plays decisive role for future and career but they don’t realize it and when time goes and it disturbs all the questions of life, they left with no options. Then in changed circumstances they have to decide what to do? But it is not necessary that everybody, gone through this situation suffers loss, sometimes it brings better opportunities. In this album the story of 3 such boys have been told by 3 troop singers who have been part of their student life. In this album the failure in exams brings bad situation for two of them as they have to leave the option for which they were dreaming but for one of them it brings such opportunity for which he was not at all thinking but it proves best for him. The boy, who wants to become a model, becomes a seller in grocery store as his father refuses to send him to Mumbai because he was failed. The boy who was preparing for the civil exams have to leave the hostel and go back home. But another desperate boy, whose girlfriend left him, finds the way of politics and turned a successful political personality.
Sadho Re, 4 mins 36 secs, dir by Maaz Kazmi: Human race will be the cancer of the planet. In the name of living we, the passive inhabitants of earth, have taken much more from the nature than we can possibly return and we are proud and arrogant about it. It’s time to wake up and time to pay back. A few simple measures form our side may be a drop in the ocean but it is definitely a step forward…This music video is an attempt to highlight the grave environmental crisis that the planet earth is suffering from.
