‘Kanika’ gives no clue of what’s mounted in the closet for us. In a casual mood and with clean slates, we begin the show. As we reach the edge of the cliff, the slate gets scribbled with several questions. The short film nudges a delicate thread and successfully transmits the wave it has addressed.

The movie kicks off with a smiling, tender 10-year-old face, reassuring melody, soothing beams of sunlight making their way from the pinnules of dense trees, a taxi on its way to an untold destination and Nidhi Bisht (our protagonist in her early 30s), gazing the busy streets of the city from the window seat; as a short film, ‘Kanika’ ensnares us more than we guess.

Bisht recounts us the story of her beau. The anecdote reveals how she met him in a bus, his dream to become a photographer, her desire to become a bride her love for posing as one as he photographs her, how funny he is and how they decide to elope. Her narration sounds juvenile. But you are convinced indubitably, all thanks to the direction of writer-director Pranav Bhasin. The movie seems a casual treat until it proceeds towards the end.

Amidst the camera stalking Bisht throughout, rapid but at the same time condign shots of the city, distant focus on the silhouette of the skyscape, makes the story more personal. As you watch, you tend to monitor Kanika extremely diligently without reservation.

Bhasin definitely takes the trophy home for the way he changes the storyline just with the play of the camera in the second half of the film. The last five minutes of the short film is what the entire movie all about- child sexual abuse.

‘Kanika’ as a short film by Girliapa has successfully managed to address the growing concern of the nation. Having known to be into comedy and light-hearted satire, this YouTube channel has pulled up the responsibility to highlight such serious issue with extreme sapience. In the wake of the #MeeToo movement taking rage all over the country, this movie successfully reminds us of the neglected and untapped issue of the nation, once again.

Special acknowledgement to the music producers Vaibhav Bundhoo and Simran Arora for orchestrating tunes in sync with the gravity of the script. Nidhi Bisht changes for us throughout her narration. From convincing us about her naive tales till the sudden change in her role at the climax, her variant vein enhances the purpose of the film.

Bhasin brilliantly puts a lid on the jar with a puzzling but unanticipated 'the end', making us connect the dots of all the prime narrations in the movie. This Girliyapa Ciné short film is an intelligently told story and is indeed a must watch.

First Published:Nov 30, 2018 11:15 PM IST