Bollywood Film 'Natkhat' won Oscar 2020-2021

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Vidya Balan's 'Natkhat' Qualifies For Oscar Nominations

"In a year that has been turbulent, it feels great to win the first award for our film that leads the way directly to Oscar qualification. This film is incredibly close to me since it gave me a chance to play the dual roles of actor and producer," said Balan.


Courtesy : YouTube

Oscars nominations always seem to have an instant interest especially in India. And while only theatrical releases have made it to be qualified for Oscars, we have barely seen a short film making it or even being considered. However, it does come across as a majorly happy news that the supremely loved short film, Natkhat starring and co-produced by Vidya Balan has been qualified to be eligible for Oscars. This happened as the film won a top prize at the third edition of Best of India Short Film Festival 2020. "In a year that has been turbulent, it feels great to win the first award for our film that leads the way directly to Oscar qualification. This film is incredibly close to me since it gave me a chance to play the dual roles of actor and producer," said Balan.

Balan turned producer with this film and plays a homemaker in a patriarchal setup. "Even in these times, creativity and content have found ways to thrive and travel. Through innovation and technology international festivals and platforms have continued to advance and bridge the gaps in new and disruptive ways. We are thrilled to have won the festival and are eligible for Oscar 2021 qualification. Onward, together Vidya and I hope to bring home an Oscar," co-producer Ronnie Screwvala said.

The film also won a prize money of $2,500 (approximately Rs 1,85,497) and an opportunity for a television broadcast deal on ShortsTV.

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Storyline
Sonu is seven; the age at which children start following role models and belief systems, they learn and imitate things from their immediate environment, and in the largely patriarchal societies of India, it's also the age at which machismo starts getting celebrated. One evening over dinner, Sonu casually mentions to his family about a ghastly act that he committed in school: a result of the firmly ingrained forces of social conditioning that define a predominantly masculine society. Determined to correct his course, his doting mother Surekha decides that she will not let Sonu go down the same path as the other men in the family. Through her bedtime stories and Sonu's love for Surekha, she teaches Sonu the true virtue of equality: that between a boy and a girl, between a human and an animal, among all creations of God.

Positive Reviews:
The parable between a child and what they can become as adults - particularly with regards to ***ism and gender bias - are explored beautifully in this short. And even though it's not overly preachy or subtle, it is direct in a most pleasing way. The cinematography - particularly the framing of the shots - were a joy to watch, and above all - the acting and the background score come together poetically to expound on the virtues and parallels between women and the birds - and kings and the young ones. It premiered on YouTube during the We Are One festival on the 2nd of June, and is absolutely worth watching when it's officially released to the public.

More than describing the permanence of domestic abuse, misogyny, and patriarchy in familial circles, Natkhat (The Brat) reinforces the idea of a possible solution against the social menace created by those everyday elements that effective child rearing at home is where you begin the real education, and thanks to its breezy narration, effervescent performances (mainly by the child actors), and a strong score the message comes out pretty well. TN.
(Film #4. Watched and reviewed during its world premiere at the We Are One Global Film Festival on YouTube. Curated by the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.)