films

In a society driven by propaganda, A mental Asylum is being broken down by the local political party for the construction of a 90 feet statue of their leader from the bygone era. As the semi-cured patients have no place to go now, the vagrant mental patients are left to their own destiny. However this could be a possible threat to the society of the sane people and a big catastrophic event is about to happen.

Asylum is a reflection of the modern world and the society; we have become with fanaticism and propaganda at its peak. The idea came from the news of a Mental Asylum being broken down by the local political party ,as the land belonged to them and they have won the ongoing court case for it. Partially recovered patients have to be sent back to their homes and to everyone’s surprise most patient’s family members’ have not left their correct addresses and contact information as they don’t want them coming back home to them ever, the patients are dispensable, powerless and useless for the society.

The story is about Aarav, the youth wing president of the local Political party, whose sole aim in life is to get the glory back of his Grandfather, his grand plans of making a massive 90 statue for his grandfather is coming to fruition. His grandfather was the man behind the party but with time, people are forgetting him, this statue will make him unforgettable for the coming generations. Aarav’s Grandmother Sushila Devi is suffering from middle stage Alzheimer’s, she is homebound due to this and her care taker is Miss Rose, A nurse from the local agency. Aarav is elated about the news of the mental asylum being eradicated and the statue being built, he feels no remorse in this. He is convinced that mental patients don’t deserve to be here or have any place in the society. However, there is a big opposition for him and his actions within the party. His nemesis Rajesh Mayuskar is the second in command and is envois of Aarav’s growing popularity within the party due to the winning of the case.

Rajesh makes sure that there is always an obstacle in Aarav’s life, he raises concern over hiring of Pilipino labor and import of Chinese products for the construction of the 90 feet statue. Rajesh also wants a sports ground built on his Dad’s name pressures the party to give him and his dad their due. In between these tussles, Many NGO kids are opposing the construction of this statue as it will leave the mental patients vagrant.

However, Karma comes back at them and justice is served to the selfish politicos’, when Aarav and his dream is shattered due to a mishappening. The story ends in a Shakespearean way where one reaps what they sew and poetic justice is served.

cast & Credits

Actors Taher Shabbir, Rishina Kandhari, Sulbha Arya, Vaishnavi Dhanraj, Dinesh Agarwal, Ashok Awasthi

 

Written and Directed by Amitabh Aurora


Produced by
Amitabh Aurora and Rishina Kandhari

Director of Photography Anil Pingua

 

Editor Parth Vyas Jaykumar

 

Music Director Abhishek Walimbe

 

Sound Designer Supavitra Mehrotra

 

Costume Designer Shabi Sharma

 

Art Director Tasneem Dange

 

Di and Color Grade Renato Gonzales and Sawan Sorathiya (After Studios)

 

Assistant Directors Joseph Marvin Oliver (First A.D.), Sachin Sharma, Ameya Khandkar, Govind Verma, Ratnesh Gautam, Tiarah Kandhari, Prisha Gaba

 

Sync Sound (On Set) Lallan Singh

 

Line Producer Ravindra Aswal & Motiram T Pawar

 

Executive Producers Dipakk Srivastava & Shikhaj Jain

Festivals Nominations and Awards

Special Mention for Screenplay- 13th Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival 2023

Official Selection – Meihido Visual Media Festival, 2023, Japan

Best Short Film Nomination – Indian Film Festival for Stuttgart 2023

Best Short Film Nomination – Kolkata Short Film Festival

Best Thriller – Paris Film Awards and New York Movie Awards 2023

Best Director – Florence Film Awards 2023

Best Cinematography, Best Director, and Best Writer, Thapasaya Film Festival, San Francisco

Best Film (First Runner-up and Best Editor) – Lucknow Short Film Festival

Honorable Mention – Hollywood Gold Awards 2023

Official Selection – New York Lift-Off Film Festival 2023