“Shuddhi” bags best short film at RIFF
The film therefore offers a fresh perspective, distinct from existing works, covering its history and clinical aspects.
Papa, an award-winning film by a Shimla based film maker has been selected for the Satyajit Ray Short Film competition at the prestigious London Film Festival that is underway till June 29.
Written, produced and directed by Sidharath Chauhan, 26, it is one of the three films to have made it to the finalists from India for the Satyajit Ray Award at London Indian Film Festival, the other films being from UK, USA and Switzerland. In all, 7 films are competing for the award.
“It is a wonderful opportunity and exposure,” Sidharath said.
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Papa depicts a sensitive relationship of a son taking care of a paralysed mother in extreme circumstances, a poignant fictitious work of art which has earned unanimous praise from the film circuit for its originality, sensitivity and powerful storytelling.
The film had its first screening in Kerala at the prestigious International Documentary and Short Film Festival where it was competing with 40 other films from all film institutes and professionals in India and it went on to be judged as the best film for its "Innovation in narrative gesture…and dark humour."
“It was shot in Shimla in October 2015 in a span of 6 days, in a limited budget, with mostly a non professional crew, at YWCA, Shimla, in collaboration with Snow Leopard Productions and Yin and Yang Films,” said Sidharath, who happens to be the first Independent Filmmaker from Himachal Pradesh to have continually taken his locally produced films outside India with no professional training at all.
Papa was made under the banner of Secret Corridor Pictures, known for their art house and independent films, which have been doing rounds at the festivals since last 3 years. (Boys don’t Wear Nailpolish 2013, Infinite Space 2014).
Siddharth lives in Shimla (Jakhu).
He founded Secret Corridor Pictures in 2012-13 with the aim of working with the local talent in his home town. All his films have been based in Shimla and have taken the local culture, talent and scenic beauty by screening his films across the globe.
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