Mumbai through the lens of two filmmakers: Top shorts from Jio MAMI

Mumbai has been a cherished cinematic muse since the dawn of Indian cinema From Nargis starrer Shree 420 1955 to the gritty drama of Bombay 1995 to the modern tales of Gully Gang 2019 and Gangubai Kathiawadi 2022 the city has served as a stage for diverse filmsIt doesnt just symbolise an urban setting but also lends a cosmopolitan backdrop making it a cinematic fixture Regaling us with the cityrsquos lived experiences and traversed spaces are two new short films that have emerged as champions under the category lsquoDimensions Mumbairsquo at the Jio MAMI Film Festival We take a look at how the cityrsquos corners gullies and beaches become a canvas to craft timeless storiesGold Award Winner Nightingales in the CocoonPraveen GiriPraveen Giris 24 Nightingales in the Cocoon confronts poverty headon and mocks the notion of hardships attached to Dharavi Dark daring and unapologetic ndash the filmrsquos world establishes Mumbai as a stage and its residents the performers Only the stage is as scalable as onersquos social class and the ability to dreamA slum dweller or a Btown actor ndash The Maximum City promises a main character energy for each of them And through his lens Giri manages to capture this bare essence of Mumbai Set in one of the slum pockets of Dharavi ndash the film is about two boys oblivious to the vices of being poorlsquoOne mans trash is another mans treasurersquo ndash becomes the running theme of the film A couple exits Dharavi in a bid to start a new life in Navi Mumbai Their house clearance renders a keyboard in the dumps which the boys chance upon while frolicking From then on the story takes a euphoric turnldquoMany artists are born in slums ndash call it lsquochawlrsquo as the locals do A dearth of food and shelter fans their flames of unwavering passion Those living in slums take their dreams very seriously Unlike us privileged lotrdquo Giri tells MiddayHe draws comparisons with the affluent sections of society who are relatively more resourceful and wellrounded in their experience Despite the privilege one reaches their witrsquos end striving for success in Bollywood And if they canrsquot make it ndash they still get to sulk in their crafty couchesWhereas a life in slums is bound to cut corners It can get dark and murky in Mumbairsquos ghetto making one reorient their focus Much like how Nightingales do singing ethereal lullabies concealed in the shadows of the nightDancing to their own tunes the boys dish a stark commentary on how even inside a cocoon ndash one can spark light The grimness is here to stay so why not change the way we see it ldquoThey are happy They take what they get and turn it into what they wantrdquo remarks GiriSewn like a poem the filmrsquos subtext reprimands those who dwell on scarcity nudging them to look within for the gold mine they are seekingGiri hailing from Madurai in Tamil Nadu shot this film in 2022 while interacting with Tamil migrants A lover of landscapes he has made five more short films and one midlength feature His latest feature film lsquoMankhurdrsquo is a political drama set in Mumbairsquos suburban areasSilver Award Winner HalfwayKumar ChhedaKumar Chhedas 23 Halfway is not your typical romantic film No dreamy escapades no heartbreaks ndash just a real conundrum that echoes Mumbairsquos iconic problem Distances Both ndash geographically and emotionallyThe film personifies Juhursquos 6kilometre sand stretch as the trajectory of a relationship Just as one can enter the beach from multiple gates a queer couple find themselves at opposing entrances of Juhu A metaphor to reflect how theyre on different pages of their relationshipFlowy chaotic and reassuring like a sunset ndash the film decodes the dilemma of finding common ground in a romantic relationship Unfolding via live conversations and music it walks the user through the beach and a profound loverrsquos tiffMade like an analogy ndash for every beat therersquos a rhythm an answer to every question a resolution to each conflict By opting for simplicity Chheda has crafted a film universe wherein a lot is happening place within a single shot Much like how Mumbai is with its erratic yet efficient rhythmChheda skillfully conveys the very spirit of Mumbai where chaos prevails even when one is caught up in a standstill All the objects in the film move constantly People birds waves and even the planet as we watch the sunset Yet the characters remain static as they grapple with the inert halt in their journeyldquoI wanted to depict the banality of love with Mumbai as the backdrop Itrsquos a story that will resonate with Mumbaikars ndash the moment you ask someone to meet at Juhu Beach you donrsquot know where to exactly enter fromrdquo Chheda tells MiddayYou can access the beach through multiple entrances from the lane adjacent to Granth Book Store via the main Chowpatty area through Dakshinayan or using the lane next to Prithvi Theatre Alternatively one can enjoy a view of Silver Beach from the Sun and Sand Hotels porchCome evenings thousands flock to Juhu No matter which gate they come from they all seek the same thing ndash the sight of sunset And in order to make it work ndash it boils down to the mutual willingness to meet in the middleThe film is not a cinematic specimen but it transcends the ordinary Itrsquos an unfiltered spatial and aural journey of wandering along Mumbais shores ndash wherein one can eavesdrop on a myriad of stories flowing in parallel blending into a cacophony that culminates with a soothing sunset