There are times when you want to watch something short and meaningful instead of streaming a full-length feature film. In those times, short films with powerful performances and crisp storylines can come to your rescue. If you are interested in watching them, here are a few Indian shorts that shed light on Indian women and their struggles.
1. ‘Juice’
Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and starring Shefali Shah in the lead, Juice is a realistic portrayal of an everyday scenario in most Indian households. Shah plays the role of a woman who cooks and serves food while her husband enjoys drinks with his friends. The movie aims to show how Indian women are expected to commit to servitude and unpaid labour while their husbands relax and unwind.
2. ‘That Day After Everyday’
Almost every Indian woman, at some point in her life, has unfortunately encountered sexual harassment, eve-teasing, abuse, and bullying at the hands of men. In this short story, starring Radhika Apte in the lead, director Anurag Kashyap shows how a woman takes matters into her own hands when she’s had enough of men harassing her. Complete with an unexpected twist, the short gives you goosebumps and leaves you feeling empowered.
3. ‘Ahalya’
In Hindu mythology, a story depicts how Indra, the king of gods, disguises himself as Ahalya’s husband to seduce her. When her real husband, Gautama Maharishi finds out about her infidelity, he curses her and turns her into a stone. This Sujoy Ghosh short turns the narrative on its head and offers a different perspective that does justice to Ahalya. It also shows how, for the longest time, society has judged women for the fallacies of men.
4. ‘Naked’
If you need a short film that will help you channel your anger at how our society judges men and women differently, Naked will live up to your expectations. In it, Kalki Koechlin plays the role of an actor whose ‘sex clip’ from a movie goes viral. Ritabhari Chakraborty, on the other hand, plays a young journalist who’s excited about interviewing Koechlin’s character. What ensues is a discussion that most women would relate to.