Unpaused

Unpaused is a wonderful collection of five beautifully crafted short movies that underlines the struggles, confusion, fear, helplessness, anger, loneliness, distress, vulnerability and cowardice that struck our lives once the COVID-19 induced lockdown was announced. the anthology, knitted by a slew of terrific performances, is a pertinent commentary on a pandemic and its depredations.

Cinematography is excellent in all segments, with near perfect production production colouring that is among the best in 2020 Indian cinema. Editing is crisp and neat, making sure none of the five segments drag unnecessarily even one bit. Production design, costumes and makeup were very decent in all segments. Directors Nikkhil Advani, Avinash Arun, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Krishna D.K, Nitya Mehra, Raj Nidimoru have really put in a great effort to ensure good quality returns in their respective segments. Music was subtle and calm throughout the segments depicting the tone of events unfolding within. Acting is generally very good overall, armed with some very good performances by a host of well seasoned actors. With Geetika Vidya Ohlyan performance in Vishaanu segment being the best of the lot.

Overall, Unpaused is important because it serves to chronicle this slice of history, that we all took part into. It helps that it is also an enjoyable, insightful affair where we get a peek into the lives of others, during the pandemic, both rich and poor and see how they conquered their vulnerability. At a run time of 114 for five segments, Unpaused is a breeze that will remind us of our own fear & helplessness during March & April 2020. 7.7 stars out of 10 for the beautiful presentation of heart touching stories.

"sab kuch mumkin hai, agar tujhmein ummeed hai" - this is what the anthology starts with. So these are stories of hope during covid-19 which has been the most hopeless period for everyone the world over.

Here's my view about the films within Unpaused:

1) Glitch - Three names: Raj & Dk (Family Man), SuperGullu (everything he's into), and Saiyami Kher (Choked) made me go through the bakwas that this story is. RajDk make a 'slightly futuristic' film with the future in the film being let's say 2 years away from this year (2021). Supergullu is not so super in his selection of this film, even though he is known to be "moody" in his selection. Saiyami Kher - you can't ignore her coloured eyes; about everything else, ignore. Overall, this film takes COVID-19 out of context and is probably someone's dream/nightmare. Maybe, that's why the use of so much colour. GLITCH: yeah, the one scene with Gulshan D in CU almost shedding a tear is the only moment where there is something of that Gulshan-Devaiah-we-know seen. 2.5 stars.

2)The Apartment - the anthology says: set and filmed in the Covid-19 lockdown. This is the only film that is irrelevant to the above claim. The makers probably wanted to make something during #MeToo, missed it, and then combined that story idea with the SSR matter - what with the dupatta and all, added a few masks, added "zoom" calls, and called it "during covid times". Blah. Acting good. Film bad.

3) Rat-a-tat - Lillete Dubey shines. So does Rinku Rajguru. Lillete as an old Bombay bungalow owner (everyone owes her everything kind), who'd come to Bombay as a newcomer once, who still has an ego larger than her need and Rinku Rajguru as a new newcomer to Mumbai who also has an ego larger than her need. Then, Lillete bakes a cake and tells Rinku: "mere jaisi mat ban jana". Beautiful short story, completely believably relevant during covid times, which makes a statement about the way we all reflected within ourselves during these times. Full marks to Tannishtha Chatterjee. She delivers. And her job must have been made easy with Lillete and Rinku.

4) Vishanu - Chronicling possible actual events, this is the best of the stories in Unpaused. Abhishek Banerjee and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan are marvellous. These were the stories which never made the news, but made the deepest impact on people during these Covid-19 times. And you truly feel the "ummeed" that so many people are alive on in these times of Covid-19. Truly truly wonderful short. The cinematography and direction needs special mention - visual motifs like a twisted empty road, muted dull colours, darkness, closed shutters, cloudy grey skies which open up slightly during "opportune moments", etc indicate that the director gave it a lot of thought. Superbly made.

5) Chand Mubarak - very relevant story during these times, but again an attempt to add "communal harmony". Didn't need it. Shouldn't the filmmaker not add anything that is unnecessary? In fact, without the communal angle, it would have worked better. Shardul Bharadwaj and Ratna Pathak Shah are both amazing as their characters. The last scene is so well done that it feels as if it's really a moment between a Bombay Rickshaw-wala (and not from anywhere else truthfully) and a citizen of Bombay - and that moment is the depiction of the sentiment that people in this world have discovered within themselves during these covid-19 times.

ONLY for the last three stories, this film deserves a 7 Let's ignore the first two stories.

Very simple short stories considering COVID as a center point. I liked it because it considers normal peoples life rather than showing flashy extravagance. It feels like we are actually visualizing people from real life.. worth your time.

Each story spoke in a different pitch and most importantly each story had it's heart at the right place. My fav are The Glitch by Raj n Dk, Vishanu by Avinash Arun And Chand Mubaarak what a beautiful short film by Nitya Mehra she is ambitious since Baar Baar Dekho and this movie was really towards positive vibe and hope for better. Hats off to all the actors, specially Richa Chaddha in Nikhil Advani's the Apartment , loved Gulshan Devaiah's killer expressions...Watch it you may find yourself in it or you'll learn something

Shardul bharadwaj. Bhai sahabbbb!!! didn't know your name, waited for all the titles to go through till I got your name. You have acted so controlled so much what was required, I hope to see you lots. Ratnajiii is always amazing. And the story was something we all needed peace.